Volunteering Policy
Date written:
Written by:

Authorised by Board:

31.10.20
Sophie Walker
Sustainability
Coordinator
9.11.20

Date to be reviewed:

9.11.21

Volunteering Policy
External

Introduction
As a way of supporting our local communities and making a positive environmental impact, ITG has
been supporting charities through internal fundraising, corporate donations and employersupported volunteering for many years. Our 2021 Volunteering Policy goes further to offer all staff
members a paid day of volunteering leave every year to increase the positive impacts we are havingin our communities.

ITG Volunteering Policy
From January 2021, all staff are entitled to one paid volunteering day a year. The Sustainability
Coordinator (SC) or Representatives (SR) will offer their team approved volunteering projects that
staff can choose to be involved with. Additionally, staff can submit details of any project they would
like to volunteer with to their SC or SR, who will check the organisation aligns with our values andcomplete a risk-assessment before approving the volunteering opportunity. The project should be
local to the branch where the staff member is based, or near where they live. Ideally this will be witha charity that the branch has supported through donating to as well.

Benefits of volunteering for staff and the company•••••

helps develop skills – from soft skills such as leadership, communication and presentation
skills, to professional skills such as advising businesses and providing pro bono support
is a viable alternative to other forms of employee development – a development
opportunity in the community can be more beneficial than classroom learning and is usuallycheaperbuilds employee engagement – volunteering fosters a sense of pride and satisfaction, andemployees are appreciative of being given time off work to support their community
helps improve brand and reputation – businesses must contribute to the communities inwhich they operate in order to be socially responsible
supports access to skills otherwise inaccessible to community organisations – many
charities and community groups could never afford to pay for the skilled support theyreceive from the business community.

Measuring
Volunteering targets will be set each year to make sure ITG is having an increasing positive impactwith our local communities. In 2021, we aim to donate more than 0.1% of working hours tovolunteering. In 2019, we donated 0.1% of volunteering hours (44 days). Each staff member willneed to report to their SC or SR when they have completed their volunteering. The SC and SRs willrecord the activity and time given on a shared spreadsheet, along with any tangible positive impacts.
Volunteering hours and impacts will be included in the Positive Impact Report written by theSustainability Coordinator every year.

Volunteering opportunities
There organisations are local charities we have had contact with and that offer group volunteering
opportunities. We are looking to find similar ones in all branch locations.
Location
Bristol

Organisation
Caring in Bristol

Volunteering activity
Preparing for Caring at Christmas by sorting
through food and clothing donations

Bristol

Outdoor volunteering on nature reserve

Bristol

Manor Woods Valley
Local Nature Reserve
Bristol City Council

TokyoBoulder

Second Harvest Japan
Community Food Share

Planting trees with One Tree Per Child
campaign
Preparing and handing out food in Ueno Park
Sorting and packing food parcels