One Blackpool in Preston

Lynn Saggerson, One Blackpool Deputy Chair & Volunteer Centre Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde CEO, presented along with four other speakers at an event at UCLAN called Employer Sponsored Volunteering: Realising the Potential in May.

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), in collaboration with the Cabinet Office (Office for Civil Society), the Universities of Hull and Sheffield, Business in the Community and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations held a workshop examining the challenges and opportunities of engaging with Employer Sponsored Volunteering (ESV).

The other speakers were:

• Russell Hogarth, Community Ambassador, UCLAN
• Stephen Sloss,  CEO, Salvere Social Enterprise CIC
• Yvonne Taylor,  Lloyds Bank Foundation
• Leyla Jama,  Kennedy Ross Consulting

This event formed part of a series of regional workshops across England exploring the challenges of maximising the impact of ESV. Building on in-depth research, the event offered participants from the public, private and third sectors the chance to explore the challenges of building effective and sustainable partnerships.

The presentations emphasised that when employee sponsored volunteering works well, it can add huge value to businesses – from engaging potential customers, clients and suppliers, to developing staff and building morale. The workshop was about unlocking the value for everyone involved; encouraging cross-sectoral dialogue and asking participants to consider what models of engagement, infrastructural support and brokerage. In addition, a member of the Office for Civil Society’s Local Intelligence Team provided details of the Government’s Skills Exchange Campaign and outlined ways in which local organisations could gain support to take it forward.