Some employers allow time off for their staff for volunteering and some even have employee volunteering programmes. Over 65 million hours a year – £0.8billion in staff time – are being freed up to help communities in the UK. For other employers, it may not be possible to release staff during working hours due to the nature of their work.
Ask your manager or personnel department if they operate a scheme like this, and if not, whether they'd think about employee volunteering. If you've got a union rep where you work, have a word with them first - Approaching your employer together may make discussions much easier.
