What is the On Demand Community (ODC), and why should employees and retirees participate?
If you are already volunteering your services to your local community – whether to a school, charity, or other not-for-profit organisation, you could nominate that organisation for a donation of equipment or cash?
Mark Wakefield, UK Corporate Citizenship Manager, answers some frequently asked questions about ODC...
Q. What is the main objective of the On Demand Community initiative?
A. To assist our IBM employees and retirees to make a real difference in the communities in which we live and work.
Q. Why 'On Demand'?
A. Those volunteering and those interested in volunteering can download and access resources from the ODC intranet at any time, to enable them to volunteer or become more effective volunteers 'On Demand'.
Q. What does it mean to employees and retirees in the UK who already volunteer their services?
A. It means an increased number of better quality resources to help them be more effective volunteers and it gives them access to Community Grants for the organisations that they volunteer with - provided that they have registered on the ODC site, recorded their volunteering hours and that they have completed a minimum of eight hours volunteering per month for five months (a total of 40 hours). (There are some restrictions on which organisations and activities can be supported - details are available on the ODC intranet site.)
Volunteers also receive recognition upon reaching 50+ hours of volunteering over a 3 month period - a certificate signed by the UK Chief Executive. There is further potential for recognition through a Global On Demand Community Excellence Award for volunteers who have exemplified the IBM values of dedication, innovation and trust through their volunteering efforts.
Q. Who is eligible to participate in ODC?
A. The ODC initiative is open to IBM employees and IBM retirees in receipt of an IBM pension.
Q. What is your advice to employees who might be thinking of volunteering?
A. The skills, knowledge and resources you possess can make a real difference to the communities we live and work within, creating more cohesive communities in which to live and work, which benefits us all. Volunteering can also be great fun and very rewarding.
Q. What should employees and retirees do, if they would like to get involved in volunteering?
A. They should visit the ODC site – to find details of national voluntary organisations who provide volunteering opportunities and volunteering brokerage. There are opportunities local to their working locations, links to local volunteering centres, plus information and training materials on what it takes to become a volunteer.
They can also read profiles of existing IBM volunteers who are helping to make a difference in their local communities. Employees find that volunteering helps them to acquire and develop a broad range of skills and knowledge that can also assist them in their careers and personal lives.
Q. How do I find out more about the On Demand Community grants scheme?
A. If you have been volunteering regularly at a community organisation, and wish to see if you are eligible to apply for a grant of cash or equipment through the ODC grant scheme – check the Eligibility Criteria.
Q. I am eligible for a grant. What next?
A.. If you are eligible to claim a grant, simply print the Application Form and send with the necessary accompanying documents to your UK Corporate Citizenship Manager – Mark Wakefield.