Should you be saying no to your FRS17 pension report?
7 Feb 2012
Yes and no are not the only options available when it comes to FRS17 pension reports, says David Davison.
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Two young professionals, free to a good home
My good friend Trixie and I were shooting the breeze last night. Talking about the usual things, friends, partners, the up-coming post-Christmas sales.
We were moaning about how much we ended up spending on travel each year, and just what selfish and horrible people that made us, when Trixie said: “Me and Mr Trixie [not his real name] want to take a week off work next year and volunteer.”
I said: “That’s very nice of you. But charities don’t want you to volunteer for a week. Give them money. Just give them your damn money.”
But she said no. It meant more to her to give her time.
Trixie works in marketing for major international organisations. Mr Trixie is an accountant with a top international firm. They are energetic, well-educated, well-meaning and largely house-trained.
So, who wants them?
A week of these people’s time is worth a good amount of money, if you bring it down to weekly salary. But are charities set up to use such people in bursts like this? Will their week end up seeing them stuff envelopes or stir soup pots?
If supporters are becoming rationalist about the impact of their donations, it is only natural they should - and will - be equally as discerning about the impact of their volunteering.
In an ideal world, charities shouldn't fawn over skilled volunteers, just as in the same lovely world they wouldn't treat major donors and £2-a-month donors any differently. But, given that the reasons for most charities' existence is indeed that the world is less than ideal, organisations should get the most value out of those who can offer high value.
Do you want my friends for a week? Or should I tell them just to book that trip to Morocco instead?
Place a comment
Marc Bowker
Communications Officer
Quarriers
11 Dec 2009
Excellent idea! Quarriers established its own Volunteer Centre around 18 months ago and certainly within the Communications Team we have utilised volunteers very effectively.
This year we've had a couple of social media volunteers helping us out with our social networks, an audio/visual guy who's done lots of editing of videos, a girl who's researched merchandising for us and also a telephone volunteer who's contacted corporates and donors. All highly skilled volunteers who have used their skills to help us, rather than just come in and stuff envelopes!
Hope this inspires any other charities/non-profits out there!
Celina Ribeiro is the editor of Fundraising magazine and daily contributor to CivilSociety.co.uk.
Follow Celina @Celina_Ribeiro_
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Celina Ribeiro (61)
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Sarah King
Chief Executive
Reach Volunteering
17 Dec 2009
We'd love your friend for a week - my charity, Reach, places people with skills with voluntary groups across the UK. We have work lasting just a few days to people who volunteer 1-2 days a week for years or become trustees and give their time in small chunks each month or quarter. Your friends are just our sort of people.
We'd love their skills ourselves at Reach to help us but even better we'd love to offer Trixie and Mr Trixie's skills to charities on our books - I know we'd have many requests and from organisations who would really work to get the most from the skills on offer. Do get in touch - www.reachskills.org.uk or 020 7582 6543
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