Here`s how to plan a successful Social Day
A Social Day enables companies and their employees to get involved in important social issues and support non-profit organisations, for example. Careful planning is crucial in order to make the experience of such a social team event enriching for all sides. Here you will learn how to organise a successful Social Day, what ideas and projects are possible and what you should pay attention to in general.
Definition: What is a Social Day?
A Social Day is a form of corporate volunteering or company commitment. Employees volunteer for charitable social, ecological or cultural projects during their working hours on a set day as part of a social team event. Often, a specific charitable organisation is supported.
Ideas for a Social Day
The activities at such a social team event can be very different, depending on what you want to focus your commitment on. Possible projects could be, for example:
- Renovation work at a children’s and youth centre,
- supporting community and cultural events in your region,
- job application training for trainees,
- gardening in a refugee accommodation centre or in a senior citizens’ facility,
- commitment for homeless people,
- joint cleanups,
- or pro bono consulting in specialist areas such as IT, design or project management at a non-profit organisation.
No matter which type of event is most suitable, it is important that everyone involved benefits from this commitment. Employees should have the feeling that they are making a meaningful contribution. This has a positive effect on the company in the form of increased motivation and company loyalty (See UPJ study on the positive impact of corporate volunteering). And, of course, the non-profit organisations should have real added value for their work.
Guide: Steps to successfully planning a Social Day
A Social Day can be optimally organized with a clear structure and well thought-out preparation. Here are the most important steps to help you plan.
1. Define the goals and the right framework
Think about which topics fit in with your company values and which you would like to support with your employees. For example, do you want to become active in environmental protection or nature conservation, support people with refugee or migration background or would you prefer to help senior citizens? If your company has CSR guidelines or a contact person who is responsible for CSR, your should include them in the planning.
2. Who should participate?
Decide whether the Social Day will be organised for a specific team or across departments. The size of the team should match the planned activity: Larger teams are suitable for construction projects or garden work, while a smaller number makes sense in small spaces such as a soup kitchen. Find out about possible participant limits at the respective volunteer location and discuss the deployment options at an early stage.
3. Find suitable non-profit organisations
Look for organisations that fit the idea of your Social Day. Keep in mind that not every organisation has the capacity for larger teams and that there may be cancellations. It is therefore worth being flexible in your planning and patient in your search.
4. Find the right date
As soon as you have found an organisation, plan a suitable date together. Some Social Days are half days, others require a full day. Be aware of vacation times or public holidays that could affect the schedule and be prepared to offer alternative dates if necessary. Some organisations have fixed days for volunteering activities, which can make planning easier for you.
5. Organise resources and travel
To ensure that the Social Day runs smoothly, the required materials and logistics should be clarified in advance. Clarify with the organisation whether they will provide gloves, tools or building materials, for example, or whether you as a company will have to provide the equipment. You should also think about the catering on site and provide things like drinks, snacks or meals. Also thinkg about how to get there – in the case of remote locations, carpooling or a shared shuttle can be a good solution.
6. Brief participants
Before the Social Day, everyone should be clear about what the project is about and what tasks await them. A brief introduction and context give the team an insight into the purpose of the work and boost motivation. Also clarify whether and how photos may be taken, discuss this with the organization and provide consent forms if necessary. This makes the volunteering a great experience for everyone.
7. Feedback and follow-up
End the day with a reflection and discuss what went well and what could be improved. This feedback will help to make future Social Days even more successful. Also appreciate the organisation’s support, for example through a donation, and consider making the cooperation a long-term one.
How vostel.de assists you with the realisation
With vostel.de you can simplify many of the planning steps: We support you with set-up, take care of acquisition and preliminary arrangements with suitable organisations and offer a platform for coordinating of the participants. With our many years of experience and our large network of non-profit organisations throughout Germany, we offer you tailor-made Social Day options – on-site, digital or hybrid. Talk to us, we look forward to hearing from you.
We wish you lots of fun on your Social Day!
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