Page 11 - NAS Members Guide to Funding

profile of allotments in your area and increase your social network. Site shops in particular bring discounted goods and sundries to your plot holders without the need to travel. Fundraising can also be good fun!
2. Pro bono professional-level volunteering - these are few and far between, less well publicised and usually accessed via funding routes (see part 4). These volunteers are professionals who are willing to help support local good causes for free (“pro- bono”). Support is usually for project management
Cons: Hard work and effort. You may need to adhere
to regulations or buy specific insurance depending upon (e.g. planning applications), accounting, and other
xt few slides in the deck.
the fundraising activity – NAS can provide advice. professional desk-based services that voluntary organisations struggle to pay for. However, do
Corporate Volunteering
What: Usually run by large businesses, your association gets the free use of company staff on a voluntary basis. Volunteer time is structured and is usually provided as a “one-off ” rather than ongoing. There are two types of schemes:
1. CorporateVolunteer Schemes (CVS)These are run by large firms, unskilled physical labour is usually provided for e.g. painting, digging. Examples of companies with a CVS are Marks and Spencer, Coca Cola, Samsung, Cadent. It can also be worthwhile asking your plot holders where they and their families/friends work, as sometimes local firms will do a “one off” if it supports a local worthy cause. Some schemes are part of a wider programme, for example the nationwide building materials and tool/plant hire companyTravis Perkins has a“Volunteer ItYourself” scheme which mentors young people to help repair and refurbish community places and spaces, whilst learning vocational trade skills on the job.
Pros: Free labour. Raises the profile of allotments with the staff involved.
Cons: Can be highly competitive and an application form may be required. Can be time consuming to organise and manage. The standard of the work can be variable. Volunteers will be expecting to have a fun day out and may have high expectations of what they will achieve. Your association will be expected to participate in corporate publicity.
remember that as a NAS member you benefit from free initial legal advice, please contact Head Office.
Pros: Free, professional skills which would otherwise be expensive to obtain.
Cons: Can be difficult to access, may be competitive, may require an application form to be completed.
CASE STUDY: “Free labour from a Corporate Volunteering Scheme plus £2500 raised at Summer Fair: Hempland Lane Allotments in York” The association went from a basic idea to a good
plan for a new community space called ‘Hempland Haven’. Using a combination of a Sainsbury’s Corporate Volunteer Scheme and the association’s well-planned fundraising at their summer fair, the idea came to life. “Sainsbury’s was celebrating their 150 years,so we applied to become their chosen ‘community project’ during the summer at their Monks Cross store in York. They were amazing, giving us 150 hours of employee time to help us tidy up the site and prepare for our summer fair. Initially, Sainsbury’s offered to help finish
off our community space, by building three storage shelters, benches, bricks, BBQs, and entrance gates. But when looking at the detailed plans it was clear that experts were needed. So instead of just apologising and saying that they couldn’t help, they reached out to their building contractors, ARCUS, who also adopted our project and gave us a four day version of ‘DIY SOS’. We provided the materials and they provided the skills, expertise and tools. Their labour would have equated
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