GROUNDWORK CHANGING PLACES CHANGING LIVES
WELCOME TO GROUNDWORK! We are the community charity with a green heart, and our missions are: Creating better places Greener living and working Improving people’s prospects
Thank you for your interest in committing the time and energy of your staff to volunteer with Groundwork! You’ve made the first step to your employees making a huge impact on communities in London – whether that’s by taking part in team building practical challenges, or sharing their professional skills with those who will benefit from them most. Every opportunity we offer will give your staff a chance to: Connect to a local community - our projects are grassroots, so you will be working directly with the people your work is helping Develop – getting out of our comfort zones is where skills are developed and teams are built; whatever the opportunity, we take a practical and fun approach Make a visible impact – our projects are local and you’ll see clear changes on the day, or across longer periods of time if you support a larger project
Step into volunteering
The benefits of volunteering – for London and community All of our volunteer days have a lasting impact in the community, as we tackle environmental and social issues hand in hand.
We work with some of the most deprived communities in London, ranging from work with residents on social housing estates, refugees and migrant groups, elderly people at risk of social isolation, schools in deprived areas, and often working with people who have no access to outdoor space. By volunteering with us, you will have a lasting impact on the lives of these people. Our mission is Changing Places, Changing Lives. We welcome you to join us in that aim.
The community case for volunteering
The benefits of volunteering – for your business and staff At Groundwork London we deliver a specialist programme, running fully serviced volunteer days bespoke to your business needs. This includes fun one-off challenge days, as well as programmes of several days across your company, all of which result in staff learning new skills, building team spirit and motivation, and offering volunteers a great sense of achievement in doing something meaningful. The benefits of volunteering, for your business and people, include: More satisfied, motivated and happier staff Improved internal team relations Increased ability to attract and retain talent Increased brand awareness and loyalty Provide promotional opportunities and positive PR stories Enable you to found long-term relations with communities, and create a positive community legacy
The business case for volunteering
We work with businesses big and small, including‌
Our existing partners
What are the different types of volunteering and projects on offer?
COMMUNITY GARDENING You can support communities across the city to help people access and learn about green spaces by helping them to clear, plant, build and grow! Best for groups of up to 20.
COMMUNITY GARDENING
COMMUNITY GARDENING
PARKS HABITAT MANAGEMENT Help to safeguard London’s public green spaces for use by all, by volunteering to rake, dig and maintain biodiversity! Best for teams of more than 20, or for half days.
PARKS HABITAT MANAGEMENT
REPURPOSING AND UPCYCLING Help reduce furniture going to landfill on housing estates and support low income families by sanding, painting and reupholstering! Best for groups of up to 15.
REPURPOSING AND UPCYCLING
What to expect from volunteering on a Groundwork project
What to expect from volunteering with Groundwork STAGE 1—ENQUIRY. We will ask you for some information including how many people you’d like to involve, what sort of activities you’ve engaged with previously, any CSR priorities, and budget available. We’ll then match you to one of our projects in need! This might be for a one-off activity, or a comprehensive programme of varied volunteering activities over several months or years. STAGE 2—CONFIRMATION. We will confirm a date, project and budget with you to suit your needs, on a day that works for the community. We’ll ask you to return a booking form to us, to fully reserve the day so that we can start planning!
Enquiry and booking
What to expect from volunteering with Groundwork STAGE 3—DETAILS. We will ask you to complete a Volunteer Details form with information about the participants on the day, so we can make sure to prepare for any additional requirements. STAGE 4—DAY PREPARATION. We will send you a briefing containing all the details necessary for your staff on the day, including where, when and what they will be doing. We can also arrange lunch, which we will invoice for in addition to the agreed amount for the delivery of activities.
The run up to the day
What to expect from volunteering with Groundwork STAGE 5—ON THE DAY. Relax, have fun and we’ll take care of everything! You can expect expert staff supervision, enabling new skills and small groups. Our service to you: All materials provided – protective clothing, equipment, tools Refreshments provided (and hot lunch if required) At least two members of staff to supervise and ensure excellent Health & Safety on all activities No skills or knowledge necessary for practical volunteering Green tips and treats on the day!
On the day
What to expect from volunteering with Groundwork STAGE 6—FOLLOW UP. We are really grateful for your contribution to the project, and want to shout about all you’ve done. After the event or programme, we will send: An online photo album containing before and after pictures The best pictures shared on social media Thank you certificate for staff taking part, with quotes from the community A case study of the activities to share with networks We’d love to get some feedback from you and see how we can work further together at this stage. Volunteering could just be the first step!
What next?
Other ways to support Groundwork’s projects
SPONSORSHIP Become headline sponsor of one of our panLondon or local programmes Sponsor large scale community events Bespoke co-production and branding
DONATIONS AND IN KIND SUPPORT Your team could bake, run, laugh and cycle to spread the word and raise funds Your company can also give donations in kind or cash to help make life-changing projects possible
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING Help Londoners overcome barriers to employment by becoming a partner in one of our employment programmes.
Jack Narbed Corporate Partnerships Officer 020 8510 5418 corporate.partnerships@groundwork.org.uk
Let’s stay in touch!