Empowering Private Sector Employees through Volunteering (EPSEV)

                                                  

 Citizenship logo                                Europe for Citizens logo

                                EPSEV Logo

 

                            Implementing Partners

Savanoriu Centras (Lithuania)        SOS Malta Logo      Volunteer Development Estonia          

 

The EPSEV project is funded with the support of the Europe for citizens programme of the European Union and was launched in the context of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010 and the European Year of Volunteering 2011. The project brings together partners from three new EU Member States and is led by SOS Malta in partnership with Volunteer Development Estonia and Savanoriu Centras (Lithuania).

The key objective of the project is to encourage and facilitate the setting up of Corporate Volunteering Schemes between the private sector and not-for-profit and non-governmental organisations within the participating Member States. The EPSEV project also aims to raise awareness on Corporate Volunteering amongst these sectors and the general public.

The EPSEV project is divided into five key phases described hereunder and will run for the period of a year between September 2010 and September 2011.

Research

Phase 1 - Research (September 2010 - January 2011)

Through the EPSEV Reseach Activity, the project partners have obtained information on the current situation with regards to Corporate Volunteering in Malta, Estonia and Lithuania. The research results also provide an understanding of the needs of not-for-profit and non-governmental organisations and the private sector regarding Corporate Volunteering in each of the participating Member States.

On completion of the research phase, each participating organisation presented the results of this research in a report. 

Click here to view the Research Report which addresses the situation in Malta.

Training the Trainer Course

A professional trainer from International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) was commissioned to deliver a two-day training course on 17 and 18 January in Vilnius, Lithuania.  Two partner representatives from each participating organisation attended the course.

The training focused on different types and the setting up of Corporate Volunteering Schemes taking into consideration the specificities of each participating Member State. Click here to see the Programme of the event.

The partner representatives gained a clear understanding of how to encourage and facilitate the setting up of Corporate Volunteering Schemes between the private and third sectors in their respective countries and were presented with a Training Pack to assist them in training HR Managers (and other relevant staff) in setting up such Schemes.

Raising Awareness

The project will be given visibility throughout its lifetime by each of the project partners during each phase of implementation. The awareness-raising phase will be most prominent in the run up to the Workshop and Networking Events in each participating Member State where it is envisaged that participants for this event will be recruited through an information campaign in the media including articles in print and electronic media, radio clips, participation in radio programmes, electronic messages and promotional leaflets.

A website was also set up by SOS Malta and the EPSEV partners containing information on Corporate Volunteering and the objectives of the EPSEV project. The website will also be used as a recruitment tool for the Workshop and Networking Events. All reports and material produced within the project will be uploaded onto this website. Each partner will also set up and maintain a database of skills needed by not-for-profit and non-governmental organisations and a list of companies able and willing to supply such skills.

Workshop and Networking Events

Each partner organisation will be organising a Workshop and Networking Event aimed at raising awareness on the benefits of Corporate Volunteering among participants and to create networking opportunities between the private and third sectors in order for them to set up Corporate Volunteering Schemes.

As part of SOS Malta's activities within the EPSEV project, SOS Malta ran a two-day Workshop and Networking Event in the month of May 2011. This event was opened by Mr Joe Gerada, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Human Resources Development, and was attended by NGOs that work with various community groups as well as businesses that operate within the hotel, telecommunication, real estate, retail and financial sectors.

The objective of this interactive Workshop and Networking event was to introduce the concept of Corporate Volunteering and to discuss how the private and third sectors can set up Corporate Volunteering Schemes. It also gave participants the opportunity to network and discuss possible partnerships.

Evaluation and Dissemination of Final Report

The outcome of the Workshop and Networking Events will be evaluated and compiled in a report which will be distributed to all members of the European Centre for Volunteering (CEV) as well as posted on the EPSEV website which will be accessible to the general public. The report will include a needs analysis of the third sector, an overview of Corporate Volunteering in each of the participating Member States, an evaluation of the Workshop and Networking Events, lessons learnt on how to set up Corporate Volunteering Schemes and recommendations on further action which could be taken.

WHAT IS CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING? 

Corporate/Employee Volunteering forms part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), where a commercial organisation donates employee time and skills within organised and focused schemes. Corporate Volunteering can take place through not-for-profit/non-governmental organisations and can range from individual volunteer effort to team or whole-of-company involvement.

Through Corporate Volunteering Schemes, not-for-profit/non-governmental organisations receive services donated by commercial organisations. Such skills can include manual work, administration, financial services, legal advice, IT services, and public relations, media and communication services. In return, through Corporate Volunteering Schemes, commercial companies can benefit from an enhanced company image and reputation, increased employee satisfaction and motivation as employees are given the opportunity to participate in challenging and varied projects outside their role within the company, as well as the knowledge that their company is contributing positively towards the community. In this way the private sector can join forces with not-for-profit/non-governmental organisations to work towards a common goal.