# CAF welcomes Conservatives’ proposals on promoting volunteering

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/04/13/caf-welcomes-conservatives-proposals-on-promoting-volunteering/
- Published: 2015-04-13T15:27:52+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Charities Aid Foundation has welcomed the Conservative Party’s proposals to offer
workers three days paid leave a year for volunteering. It described them as “a welcome
step towards getting more businesses to lead the way in promoting volunteering”.**

Currently, fewer than one in 10 workers in the UK are given time off, let alone 
paid time off, to volunteer. Yet nearly six out of 10 people believe that [offering staff more paid volunteering leave would encourage them to give up more of their time for good causes](https://www.cafonline.org/media-office/press-releases/2013/payroll-giving-reforms-needed.aspx).

Volunteering opportunities are not always promoted effectively and CAF argues, based
on [research by ComRes on employee volunteering](https://www.cafonline.org/about-us/media-office/press-releases/2015/2601-businesses-volunteering.aspx),
that many staff remain unaware of the opportunities that are available to them to
volunteer. This research found that **56%** of employees said that offering information
on how to support charities at work would be particularly effective at getting them
involved in giving.

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John Low, Chief Executive of CAF, said of David Cameron’s announcement on volunteering:

> “Charities across Britain rely on the dedication and determination of volunteers
> to make a difference and action designed to get more people involved in volunteering
> should be applauded…”
> “Businesses that help their staff get involved in volunteering benefit too. Not
> only does volunteering help develop team working skills, but evidence also shows
> that it makes employees feel more engaged and proud at work, which can increase
> their productivity and loyalty towards an employer.”

Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, also welcomed the proposal. He 
said:

> “This is an exciting proposal which would be good news for charities and for businesses.
> Many charities urgently need more volunteers to support their work, while volunteering
> is an excellent way for employees to develop skills and confidence that will benefit
> their employers.
> “Anything that helps encourage our culture of volunteering is very welcome. We
> look forward to seeing the detail of the proposal.”

NCVO’s Almanac reports that [an estimated 15 million people volunteer](http://data.ncvo.org.uk/a/almanac14/how-many-people-regularly-volunteer-in-the-uk-3/)
in the UK for good causes at least once a month.

Trade unions initially welcomed the proposal because it included public sector workers,
but were then informed that it [would not extend to enable people to undertake volunteer work for trade unions](http://www.localgov.co.uk/Unions-in-dismay-after-Tories-exclude-them-from-paid-volunteering-plans/38484).

 

_Photo: [volunteer t-shirt](http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-139962109/stock-photo-man-wearing-volunteer-tshirt-with-arms-crossed-on-white-background.html)
by wavebreakmedia on Shutterstock.com_