Durham Community Action supports businesses and local voluntary and community sector (VCSE) organisations to deliver Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) across County Durham.
ESV enables employees to volunteer during working hours with the backing of their employer. This can include skills-based volunteering, individual volunteering with chosen charities, or team volunteering on one-off projects or larger events. All forms of ESV contribute to strengthening local communities.
Employee volunteering brings clear benefits to the VCSE, including added capacity, specialist skills and fresh perspectives. Employers also benefit through improved staff wellbeing and stronger connections with their local communities.
Most importantly, ESV helps VCSE organisations access the resources and expertise they need to deliver projects more quickly or reach more people and achieve greater impact in their communities.
A two-way approach is essential to ensure VCS organisations receive meaningful support without added pressure, while businesses are connected to the right opportunities. To support this, Durham Community Action hosts the County Durham ESV Network, connecting businesses with local organisations and helping to maximise positive impact across the county.
Click here if you are a business interested in volunteering
Click here if you are a VCSE organisation interested in ESV support
Find out more about the types of Employer Support Volunteering available
