Lift-off for employee volunteering programme

We have launched an employee volunteering programme to provide nearly 2,000 days of community engagement a year.

The new scheme is aimed at our 6,500 workforce based in the South West, South Wales and the Midlands.

Staff will have the opportunity to share their skills, experience and time in the communities where they are based, working with charities and groups from Mansfield to Mevagissey.

The types of activity employees can take part is varied and includes:

•  supporting environmental sustainability through conservation and biodiversity projects
•  assisting people from low-income and under-represented communities to develop working skills and learning to boost employability
•  getting involved in initiatives to improve physical and mental health
•  using practical skills to help customers in vulnerable situations, for example renovations at a hospice or creating a sensory garden for children with special needs

Emily Green, National Grid Electricity Distribution’s Volunteering & Sponsorship Coordinator, said: “We are committed to enabling 1,900 days of employee volunteering every year until 2030, with each member of staff able to register for up to three working days each year.

“We have people based in 50 locations across our region, many of whom dedicate their own time to volunteering. This programme will provide greater opportunities for our colleagues to support local good causes, delivering social, educational, economic and environmental benefits.

“It’s also a great way to build team relationships, promote wellbeing and expand knowledge and understanding of the communities we serve.”

A new online platform has been created so staff can sign-up and log their volunteering. Among the first teams to participate in the programme were a group of field and office staff from Bristol who undertook woodland conservation work with TCV.

Bristol Operations Director Steve Blackwell said: “I really enjoyed being out in the open, surrounded by fantastic scenery and working with colleagues that I don’t work closely with day to day.

“Planting a new hedgerow gave everyone a feeling of doing the right thing for the environment but volunteering our time made us feel like we were giving something back to the local community which many other people could enjoy. I would highly recommend getting involved with a volunteering scheme.”

Wayleaves specialist Donna Bayliss took part in a Young Enterprise event with year 12 students at a Birmingham school to raise awareness of energy industry career opportunities.

Donna said: “I found it hugely rewarding engaging with the students and being able to share my experience. They were all really eager to listen and for me it was good to get out of the office and do something different which was totally out of my comfort zone.

“Going back into the office, I felt re-energised, really positive, hoping that my taking part on that morning may help any one of the students with their aspirations and career choices.”