# Employee volunteering could generate £17bn a year for charities

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/10/27/employee-volunteering-could-generate-17bn-a-year-for-charities/
- Published: 2022-10-27T09:00:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Letting employees volunteer for an average of an hour a week could result in an
extra £17 billion a year for charities and community groups, according to research
from Pilotlight.**

[Pilotlight](https://www.pilotlight.org.uk/)’s report, called [Give your culture a workout](https://www.pilotlight.org.uk/give-your-culture-workout),
is based on surveying of over 4,000 people. It shows a demand from the UK workforce
for employers to do more to support skills-based volunteering in the community, 
and highlights the positive impact this would have on charities and community groups,
as well as businesses.

The report estimates that at least 8,300 charities and social enterprises have benefitted
from this kind of support in the past year, with around six million people (21% 
of the workforce) putting their work skills into use on a voluntary basis. A further
50% say they would like to volunteer using their occupational or professional skills.

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

In addition, 77% of employees believe employers should be supportive of their staff
taking time to volunteer and 82% believe volunteering helps their work skills and
knowledge. 79% also believe businesses themselves benefit.

Estimating that 45% of adults would like to use the skills or knowledge they have
developed at work to help good causes on a voluntary basis, it states that this 
would generate a potential £17 billion of skilled support.

Ed Mayo, CEO of Pilotlight, commented:

> “Work is changing. Now, the new patterns of work that people want are more porous,
> with learning, participation and purpose that goes beyond the predictable. In 
> this context, there is a new dynamic emerging of ‘pro bono’ volunteering, in which
> people can use their skills in a charitable setting. In the post pandemic context,
> this is good for business.
>  
> “We believe more and more employees are looking for a ‘workout culture’, one that
> actively supports them to get involved in causes and their community. From our
> experience we know this is a really powerful way to attract and retain the best
> employees.”

#### Good for business too

In terms of how it would help businesses, the report highlights a number of benefits,
including increased employee wellbeing; better staff retention and loyalty; better
and stronger links with charities in their local community; increased attraction
to potential employees; enhanced profile and reputation with clients, potential 
clients and other key stakeholders; and evidence of impact and commitment to increasing
their sustainability, advancing their diversity, equity and inclusion and reaching
their community engagement targets..

Sally Bailey, Chair of Trustees for Pilotlight, commented:

> “In our post-pandemic context, what is new is not the fact that business can help
> charities. It is the recognition that charities can help business. Skills-based
> volunteering is good for both. Our research suggests that the practice is growing
> fast and has the potential one day to overtake charitable donations from business.”

 * **[1 in 10 people would volunteer this winter if asked](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/12/05/1-in-10-people-would-volunteer-this-winter-if-asked/)**(
   5 December 2022)
 * **[Volunteering intentions from young adults could see extra 2.5mn give their time this year](https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/01/04/volunteering-intentions-from-young-adults-could-see-extra-2-5mn-give-their-time-this-year/)**(
   4 January 2023)
 * **[UK’s over 50s spend 807mn days a year caring or volunteering](https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/01/13/uks-over-50s-spend-807mn-days-a-year-caring-or-volunteering/)**(
   13 January 2023)