This is really just a matter of common sense. But if you are committed to achieving major business benefits in this way, often helps to get help.

National help
Cares is a business-led employee volunteering programme, Business in the Community (BitC) initiative. It provides a fun and simple way to get engaged with your community. Some 35,000 employees have volunteered through Cares. www.bitc.org.uk/cares

Arts and Business involves employees in creative partnerships between companies and the arts and a Board bank. www.aandb.org.uk

Local help
Check with your Chamber of Commerce or Council for Voluntary Service or Volunteer Bureau for information on existing schemes designed to support employee volunteering in your area.

Online Help
www.employeevolunteering.org.uk An essential on-line resource for volunteer managers, potential volunteers and anyone seeking up to date information on volunteering.

www.bcconnections.org.uk Business Community Connections aims to help charities obtain more support from business.

www.csv.org.uk Community Service Volunteers is a UK charity providing volunteering opportunities, training, information and employee volunteering brokerage.

www.timebank.org.uk Timebank is a national volunteering campaign.

www.do-it.org.uk The Do It online database describes itself as the home of UK volunteering on the web.

www.yearofthevolunteer.org 2005 is the Year of the Volunteer.  This site tells you what opportunities there are to join in.

www.vds.org.uk Volunteer Development Scotland is the Scottish national centre for volunteering with a programme for employee volunteers.