Invest in your Community

Go for it!

Employee volunteering is good for the community, good for those who volunteer, and good for your company.

Volunteering can help your business:

  • Improve your brand image and Corporate Social Respobsibility (CSR)

  • Increase staff engagement, morale and motivation

  • Build transferable skills for employees

  • Encourage team building and communication

  • Improve recruitment and retention

You can help charities:

  • Raise their profile

  • Develop new business partnerships

  • Sustain important community services

Employees Can:

  • Learn new skills & discover talents amongst your colleagues

  • Make a difference to a good cause or local charity

  • Discover a new approach to work within and between teams

  • Build self-confidence, communication and relationships amongst employees

  • Have fun and get creative outside of a work environment

Case Study: Local Company supports popular tourist attraction for the day

Volunteers were out in force at Foxton Locks on Friday as part of a pilot initiative encouraging businesses to help out in the community.

On Friday 23 August 2019, Harborough District based business, Joules, took part in a pilot volunteering day in partnership with Harborough District Council, Voluntary Action Leicestershire (VAL) and Canal and River Trust.

Fifteen Joules colleagues (pictured below) volunteered their help for the day and learned how the Canal and River Trust staff maintains such a prestigious tourist attraction throughout the year.

Joules Volunteers at Foxton Locks

Councillor Phil King, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “It is great to support this volunteer project to encourage businesses in the Harborough District to offer a few hours of their day to help play a part in improving their local community.”

James Cockbill, learning and development manager for Joules, said: “It’s been a brilliant experience. The team have enjoyed getting out of the office and being able to learn and offer their time to help maintain such a popular tourist attraction that is enjoyed by so many visitors throughout the year.”

During the day the team were able to learn about the nature and habitat of Foxton. Whilst taking a tour of the site they were informed about the number of tree and plant species at Foxton Lock and the surrounding area, as well as their importance in creating a healthy environment for visitors to enjoy.

Furthermore, one of Canal and River Trust’s Ecologist & Environmental Scientists offered their expertise and showed the group how the water is tested; discussing what the readings mean, the effects of pollution on our inland waterways and the importance of testing water conditions.

The team were hands-on and got involved in helping to paint lock gates and fencing around the Foxton site. The Foxton Locks staff explained how this is an important aspect of the job as it enhances visitors’ experience of visiting a well kept and managed site.

Volunteers at work at Foxton Locks with the Canal and River Trust

Dave Cliffe, VAL’s employment hub development officer, said: “It has been great to pilot this volunteering day with such a well-respected local business, Joules, at Foxton Locks. Days like this are a great way for businesses to engage with their staff beyond the traditional office environment, while offering help and support their local community.”

Both the Canal and River Trust and VAL websites provide a range of information about how you can get involved in volunteering.

For any information regarding business advice or support you can contact Harborough District Council’s Economic Development Team by emailing business@harborough.gov.uk or via Twitter @InvestHarbDist

Hear about the day!

Joules Volunteers at Foxton Locks (Video)

Local charities we work with

Voluntary Action Leicestershire (VAL)

Voluntary Action Leicestershire (VAL) is a charity that helps people in local communities to change their lives for the better, through direct service delivery and by supporting the local voluntary and community sector.

Canal & River Trust

Canal & River Trust can work with your company to develop a volunteering programme that provides a very real and practical experience for your staff while delivering environmental and social impact for your local canal or river.

Book a team day out which has a real impact and is also great fun, learn new skills and work in ways that may be new to you.

Feedback from some of our current corporate partners have shown the value of these days to their people. It gives them the opportunity to take a fresh look at their roles and the people who they work with. They come away with new ideas, inspired by spending time by the water and feel invigorated from helping local people, wildlife and heritage.

Due to demand, Canal & River Trust only run a limited number of team days each year and these are spread across out 2,000 mile network. To discuss opportunities available both nationally and locally email:

Scott Miller- Yorkshire & North East and East Midlands Scott.miller@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Active Together

Considering a career in the sports, fitness, leisure or physical activity sector in Leicester and Leicestershire?

The Careers Information Hub is a central place to find:

  • Quick links to the Jobs and Volunteering pages
  • More information about some of the pillars of the sporting ecosystem based in Leicester and Leicestershire
  • Link to the key employers in the leisure, health and fitness and sport sector
  • Top tips for securing the role you want in

Click here to see the latest jobs in the sector

Click here to see the latest volunteering opportunities in the sector