This Volunteers Week, we're celebrating our own volunteers, and echoing calls for the government to introduce statutory volunteering leave. While we await potential policy changes, we can lead the way to extend volunteering far beyond our own organisations.
CFG believes that by encouraging and supporting volunteer work, the team benefits from unique insights into the charities and sector we serve.
Our staff volunteering policy provides up to four paid days each year for employees to volunteer, recognising that this investment benefits not just the causes they support, but enriches our understanding of the challenges facing the sector.
Harriet Deeks, CFG’s HR and Operations Officer, comments: "Volunteering brings significant benefits for physical and mental wellbeing while also helping to combat isolation. It creates meaningful connections with our communities and deepens our understanding of the sector we serve.
“Through volunteering, we can apply our professional skills and expertise to support other organisations, whilst simultaneously building confidence and developing fresh skills and valuable new relationships.”
Ida Karlsson, CFG’s Policy Officer, recently used her volunteering leave to support Little Village in London, a charity that provides essential goods to families with babies and young children living in poverty.
Ida spent her volunteering hours sorting donated items and packing them up for families in need. “One of my favourite parts of the day was packing a big box, choosing a bunch of clothes to create cute little outfits, and selecting toys and books that I would have loved as a child!”
CFG's Deputy CEO, Clare Mills, exemplifies CFG's commitment to volunteering through her role outside of CFG as a school governor, where she chairs the Finance and Resources Committee.
Clare's experience demonstrates how volunteering can bring a strategic perspective and deeper understanding of governance – insights that enhance her support CFG's mission.
A call to action
As we celebrate Volunteers Week 2025, we call on organisations across the charity sector and beyond to recognise the true value of volunteering – not just as an act of service, but as an investment in stronger communities.
Here are our top five tips on getting started:
- Lead by example. When senior leaders actively participating in volunteering activities it demonstrates a genuine commitment to community engagement and service.
- Implement flexible volunteering policies that accommodate different schedules and preferences, ensuring that all employees can participate, regardless of their personal circumstances.
- Provide information and guidance to help staff find volunteering opportunities that align with their interests and skills, maximising both personal fulfilment and community impact.
- Recognise and talk about your staff's volunteering efforts - it's a good way to create a positive culture, encourages continued participation and inspires others to get involved.
- And it goes without saying - if your organisation welcomes volunteers, make sure you're making it as easy as possible to access opportunities and get involved. The RVS and NCVO provide plenty of support tools and advice on this.
The charity sector faces unprecedented challenges, from declining public trust to resource constraints. Yet the spirit of volunteering – evident in our own volunteers and in the rising engagement of young people – offers hope and practical solutions.
By supporting volunteering leave and implementing our own supportive policies, we can harness this spirit to build stronger communities and a more engaged civil society.
Further reading
Volunteering in crisis? The case for statutory volunteering leave
Celebrating the unsung heroes of the sector
Sign this petition to support the campaign for the government to introduce the right for all UK employees to ask for up to 35 hours of paid volunteer leave each year.