The First Rand Volunteers Programme Businesses thrive

The First. Rand Volunteers Programme

“Businesses thrive where societies thrive – interdependent” OVERVIEW • A brief history • The programme structure • The objectives of the programme • Contributing to development in SA/the region? • Strengthening the programme moving into 2012

A brief history The programme was launched in 2003 as a result of call to action from President Thabo Mbeki, when he asked South Africans “to become as society of volunteers and to rise up and do something” in his State of the Nation address in 2002 Since 2003 the employees have donated over R 20 million in both time and money to beneficiary organisations of their choice 34 200 staff - approximately 22% participation The programme supports employees from First. Rand, First National Bank, Rand Merchant Bank and Wes. Bank Match money from staff’s pockets Match employee’s time (in own time and group’s time) No-one forced to participate - about the passion and commitment (Giving in group’s time – CEO discretion)

How does the programme work? www. firstrandvolunteers. co. za Dedicated Business Unit at First. Rand level Dedicated Division Volunteer Co-Ordinators Division Co-Ordinator Committee The First. Rand Volunteers Committee First. Rand Group Drives – the momentum Active business units in each division - countrywide Training – Programme policies and procedures The Matched Funding Programme Acknowledgement and Recognition Communication and PR

“To Help People to Help Themselves” • To achieve maximum participation across all divisions of the group • Facilitate and support employee involvement in community across the divisions • Source beneficiaries for employees to support • Long-term meaningful relationships with our beneficiaries (2 -3 years) • To encourage the sharing of “time” (knowledge and skills transfer) – our matched funding for individuals • Income generation programmes • Partnering/funding initiatives with PBOs to deliver quality services • No donations of cash – we purchase what beneficiary needs • The ROI – “making business sense” • Alignment to First. Rand Foundation Fund • Monitoring and Evaluation • Sustainability Reports • • Good corporate governance Supporting less organisations well

Contribution to development in SA/the region • The FNB Commercial Lifeskills and Mentorship Programme • The FNB Banking Channels Mooiplaas Community Project • The Wes. Bank Bottom Primary School Project • The RMB NPO/NGO Leadership Workshop • Volunteering support for our NPO/NGO partners to assist them with the following : - In an advisory capacity through our fund managers - Assisting with networking opportunities - Funding attendance at CSI conferences

Contribution to development in SA/ the region Support in the Region • FNB Branches in the region Swaziland (245 staff), Lesotho (3 branches and Wes. Bank), Namibia (1814 staff), Botswana (19 branches), Mocambique (13 branches), Tanzania ( 2 branches), Zambia (191 staff / 6 branches)

Strengthening the programme moving forward by creating : Better value for our employees : • • • • Management support (time to drive programme outside of daily jobs) Making funding available to pay for staff to experience volunteering An accreditation for training workshop An ONLINE training module Employee focus groups/feedback/surveys Our community conversation Recognition of volunteer champions – through 360’s / performance appraisals Dedicated and remunerated resources to drive the programme Harnessing of skills realised by staff through volunteering – HR Skills database from each division – volunteers to share knowledge and skills To offer more specialised/exciting volunteering opportunities to staff Opportunities to collaborate with corporate SA – in space of HIV/Aids/Education Reporting (M & E, sustainability reports) More sharing, documenting and PR in 2012 Using social media Better value for communities: • • FRV Training Workshop to include “how to engage with community leaders” Take education regarding banking services to communities– “consumer education” Support for community income generation programmes To encourage mentorship of enterprise development/small businesses Networks / resources available in the business – take to communities Corporate collaboration (depending on skills and expertise) Volunteer readiness – a challenge

Strengthening the First. Rand Volunteers Programme : Better value for organisations : • • • Assisting beneficiary partners to become more attractive for more donor funding Funding our beneficiaries to attend CSI conferences Assisting beneficiaries with networking opportunities The Programme Community Conversation Monitoring and evaluation Sustainability Reports Better value for volunteers (civil society and the youth): • • Working with corporates to assist business case for government support Access to job shadow opportunities at corporates Access to mentors – young entrepreneurs First. Rand are attending this conference to listen and find out how we can get involved - learning

Are corporates and their staff involved in “Employee Volunteering” for all the right reasons? • Responding to personal needs of the volunteer and not to the broader community needs • Adopting an ‘ag shame’ approach, based on sentimentality and need alone. • One-off volunteer actions • “Look at me philanthropy” – about the photo opportunity and not long term sustainability • A lack of accountability and reporting by volunteers

Challenges? • First. Rand Foundation – no cross border funding • Available funding in tough times – FR received more • Making resources available in corporate’s time Discussion • Competition between corporates / brand loyalty? • Collaboration with other corporates – we need to start • Government support, buy-in and involvement • To establish a Corporate Volunteering Forum / Committee in SA • Growth through recognition of volunteer initiatives (showcasing volunteer initiatives

Thank you