Corporate Social Responsibility
Employees increasingly want to see their company's CSR (corporate social responsibility) investment going into community activities that really make a difference. Engagement and fulfilment are priorities for staff while you have the dilemma of getting the balance right between maximum impact and minimal financial and time outlay.
In a tightening market time/task management is crucial. Staff spending time offsite to participate in a CSR activity means that the activity must deliver on many levels to justify that time investment.
Supporting the work of Junior Achievement makes a company's commitment to the local community very visible.
So how does it work?
Junior Achievement offers a variety of volunteering opportunities, these include delivering programmes in the classroom or helping with some of our exciting fundraising events. Not only that we offer your employees the chance to gain an accredited qualification known as a 'Community Volunteering Qualification'.
Our Programme Managers recruit and train the business volunteers to teach their chosen Junior Achievement programmes in local schools. We work closely with you to ensure that the number of staff volunteering and participating at any given time is regulated. Most of our classroom-based programmes require only five to seven hours. We can plan all of this with your HR department - it's very straightforward and since we're dealing with the academic year, we have from September to June to place volunteers.
What are the benefits to your Organisation?
The benefits to the company are manifold. Among our supporting companies are national and international financial institutions, manufacturing organisations and small businesses. Companies tell us that their involvement in local schools means they attract a greater number of staff locally, either as school leavers or others who have come in contact with the company through its involvement with Junior Achievement.
Internally, presentation and communications skills are greatly improved through staff stepping outside their comfort zone and leading classroom groups. They are forced to think on their feet and come up with management solutions on the spot.
By balancing the requirements of your organisation with its drive to bring enterprise and life skills education into schools, Junior Achievement proves that CSR objectives and delivery can be a win-win for both sides of the equation.
