Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) & social value
CSR is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s a strategic necessity backed by data, impact, and accountability. From ESG reporting to public sector procurement, organisations are under growing pressure to show how they operate with purpose, contribute to society, and deliver social value.
Volunteering can deliver
Volunteering plays a critical role in delivering on these goals. Whether you're evolving your CSR strategy or strengthening ESG performance, this guide explores how corporate volunteering can help you achieve meaningful outcomes for your business and the communities you care about.
What is Corporate Social Responsibility?
CSR is a business approach where companies take responsibility for their impact on society, the environment and economic prosperity. It spans everything from reducing emissions and advancing equity to building community relations and supporting employees’ wellbeing.
Today’s CSR landscape is increasingly shaped by frameworks such as the Government’s Social Value Model and the National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) and ESG standards, all of which prioritise demonstrable, local impact.
Volunteering stands out as one of the most hands-on and measurable ways to meet these expectations
What is meant by Corporate Social Responsibility?
CSR refers to how businesses align their operations with ethical, social, and environmental considerations. This includes how they support their workforce, interact with communities, address sustainability, and deliver positive impact beyond profit.
In the UK, CSR efforts are increasingly assessed through procurement frameworks, ESG reporting, and public commitments to responsible business.
Under the NPPS, organisations are now required to demonstrate social value outcomes, making volunteering a strategic tool in competitive bids.
What are the 4 corporate social responsibilities?
CSR is commonly structured around four key areas. These areas work together to support long-term value for both businesses and society.
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Environmental Responsibility
Reducing your environmental impact through sustainable practices.
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Ethical Responsibility
Operating with fairness, transparency, and inclusivity.
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Philanthropic Responsibility
Giving back to communities and supporting charitable causes.
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Economic Responsibility
Ensuring financial decisions are sustainable and serve a wider social good.
What are the 7 pillars of CSR?
Some organisations adopt a broader framework that includes:
- Governance
- Community involvement
- Workplace practices
- Marketplace behaviour
- Environmental stewardship
- Human rights
- Stakeholder engagement
Volunteering can play a role across many of these pillars, from improving governance through employee engagement to building stronger community links via local partnerships.
CSR vs ESG: Understanding the Difference
While often used interchangeably, CSR and ESG differ in structure and focus:
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CSR
Is a self-regulated approach rooted in values, culture and leadership.
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ESG
Refers to measurable standards used by investors, stakeholders, and regulators to assess environmental, social and governance performance.
Volunteering sits at the intersection of both. It’s a visible way to live your CSR values and a measurable way to demonstrate ESG-aligned activity in areas like employee wellbeing, community investment, and social impact.
95% of people supported by our volunteers’ report feeling happier, and 88% feel more connected to their community.
These outcomes demonstrate the tangible benefits a corporate volunteering programme could deliver.
Royal Voluntary Service client survey, 2025
CSR volunteering & community service programmes
Corporate volunteering is one of the most direct and visible ways a business can put its CSR in action.
By engaging staff in volunteering, whether through one-off team days, individual skills-based opportunities, or longer-term partnerships, companies can:
- Show a clear commitment to social value
- Build community relationships and strengthen local ties
- Engage and motivate their workforce
- Demonstrate real and measurable impact
There are strong business benefits too. Research also suggests that employees who volunteer are more likely to stay longer with their employer. In fact, 30% of businesses told us corporate volunteering improved staff loyalty.
Community service programmes for businesses
Structured volunteering initiatives allow employees to contribute in meaningful ways, strengthening the connection between your business and the wider community. These help:
- Reinforce your organisation’s values and culture
- Provide new skills and leadership development opportunities for employees
- Foster pride in being part of a purpose-led organisation
Whether coordinated in-house or delivered through platforms like the Volunteering Marketplace, these programmes can be scaled to meet your business goals and community needs.
Corporate philanthropy & giving
Volunteering, when paired with financial support, can significantly amplify the impact for charitable organisations. Many effective CSR strategies combine hands-on involvement with financial contributions through approaches such as donation matching, employee-led fundraising, skills-based volunteering and grant making to charity partners.
Combining financial support with hands-on volunteering boosts employee engagement and demonstrates a genuine, long-term commitment to the causes your business cares about.
How volunteering supports your CSR strategy
Embedding volunteering into your CSR programme helps demonstrate real-world impact both within your organisation and beyond.
- Builds employee engagement and loyalty
- Strengthens brand reputation and trust
- Offers evidence of impact for ESG or social value reporting
- Shows proactive investment in communities
Volunteering also supports your commitments under the Social Value Model, ESG frameworks, and procurement scoring, making it a smart, multi-benefit approach.
Social value and social impact initiatives
Volunteering delivers measurable social impact. From tackling loneliness and improving community health to increasing digital inclusion or mentoring young people, these outcomes contribute directly to your social value goals. However, it’s robust data that transforms volunteering from a feel-good initiative into credible, measurable impact that stands up in ESG reporting and procurement bids.
Clear reporting on volunteering hours, activities and outcomes helps you:
- Demonstrate impact to stakeholders
- Strengthen ESG disclosures
- Improve your performance in public sector bids
- Showcase tangible change in annual or sustainability reports
Business community engagement
Consumers are four times more likely to purchase from companies they believe have a strong purpose, according to the 2020 Zeno Strength of Purpose study.
Corporate volunteering humanises your brand and builds trust. It shows your organisation is invested in people, not just profit.
Collaborative volunteering programmes also:
- Foster local pride and loyalty
- Help staff understand community needs
- Create positive word-of-mouth among customers and stakeholders
Get started
Bringing CSR and volunteering together
Whether you're refreshing your CSR approach or looking to build social value in a bigger way, volunteering is a scalable, high-impact solution.
Make your volunteering count. Learn how to maximise impact through our Volunteering Marketplace.
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