Cheltenham Borough Council workers to take time out to volunteer

COUNCIL staff are to take time out of work to volunteer in the community.

Cheltenham Borough Council has agreed a policy which will allow workers to spend up to 16 hours each year doing team-based or individual volunteering activities as paid time away from work.

The move follows the successful unpaid efforts of employees during the July 2007 floods.

A report, which went before members of the council's staff and support services committee last week, said: "During the 2007 floods crises, a large percentage of the council's employees were called upon to help and support people in the borough.

"Employees were taken away from the 'day job' to support water distribution, sand bag filling and a range of other activities not normally delivered by the council. Everyone involved felt they were giving something back to the community in which they worked."

It says a survey last year highlighted that employees felt they would like more opportunities to support the community.

The council's personnel manager, Julie McCarthy, said: "We want to give our employees an opportunity to give something back to the community, as well as develop new skills along the way.

"The policy, which was agreed this week, will be rolled out across the organisation in the early new year and we will be working closely with Cheltenham Volunteer Centre."

The draft Employee Volunteering Policy lists three types of volunteering, team activities, such as painting buildings or doing community garden projects.

Examples of individual activities include volunteering in the youth service, the ranger Service, coaching and fundraising.

There is also the option of using a skills bank, where employees will learn skills such as IT, photography or project management, with the help of people at the Cheltenham Volunteer Centre.

The draft policy says volunteering will help staff learn new skills, meet new people, boost confidence, have fun and make a difference.

It says: "Volunteering will help to get a wider perspective of some of the issues in the local community. It is important employees feel good about working for Cheltenham Borough Council. Employee volunteering helps to create a positive culture."