New GoVo platform aims to unlock unused UK volunteer hours

Royal Voluntary Service has launched GoVo for Business, a digital platform designed to unlock unused workplace volunteering time across the UK by connecting employers with volunteering opportunities from charities nationwide.

The launch follows £5 million in funding raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery. After a pilot phase, GoVo for Business is now open to corporate users. The wider GoVo.org platform launched for public use last year.

Workplace volunteering is widely offered but often underused. Royal Voluntary Service cited research suggesting around 62% of UK businesses offer volunteering time to staff. It also estimated that 140 million hours of volunteering time went unused last year, which it linked to the challenge of finding suitable opportunities and managing volunteering programmes.

Platform features

GoVo for Business includes a search tool that lets employees find volunteering roles across the UK. The charity said the system uses semantic search and natural language queries. Listings include remote and in-person placements, skills-based roles, ad hoc opportunities, and micro-volunteering.

For employers, the platform includes tools to run volunteering programmes, including participation tracking and impact reporting. It also supports Single Sign-On for employee onboarding.

Royal Voluntary Service said it worked with more than 400 charities during development. It said the platform provides access to "thousands of volunteering opportunities", including "over 400 in every postcode", and includes filters by cause, location, and preferred volunteering type.

The platform also supports application and sign-up management. The charity said basic ID checks are handled centrally through its identity partner Yoti. An AI chatbot provides user support, with access to customer support when needed.

Charity demand

The launch comes as charities report sustained pressure on volunteer availability. Royal Voluntary Service referenced research that puts the shortfall at three million volunteers.

Employers also face greater scrutiny over how they report social value and community impact. Volunteering programmes have become a more visible part of those efforts, particularly for large employers with formal environmental, social and governance reporting.

Royal Voluntary Service positioned GoVo for Business as a way to reduce administration and widen participation. It also linked volunteering to workforce issues such as engagement and wellbeing.

Workforce engagement

Research commissioned by Royal Voluntary Service suggests workplace engagement remains a challenge for many employers. In a survey cited by the charity, 29% of UK workers reported feeling disengaged in their jobs, while 34% said they felt stressed and burnt out. Respondents also said they had become less productive in the last year (28%), less engaged (34%), and less satisfied (35%).

Deborah Meaden, investor and Dragon's Den star, said employee volunteering can help address these issues.

"Employee engagement and wellbeing are two of the major cornerstones of a well-functioning business yet can be the hardest to get right. There's an easy win many employers are missing though: volunteering. It's proven to improve wellbeing, build connection and skills, and deliver good things for society," said Meaden.

"However, simply offering volunteering days isn't enough - organisations must actively support and make it easy for teams to take them. With so many vital causes needing our help, employee volunteering is an unparalleled opportunity for businesses to make a real difference both inside and outside the organisation," she added.

Pricing model

GoVo for Business is available on a tiered pricing model. Royal Voluntary Service said commercial income from the platform will be reinvested in product development and the charity's community services.

The platform sits within a wider Royal Voluntary Service system called the Impact Stack, which the charity described as having GoVo for Business at its digital core. Other elements include consultancy and curated activities for employers running volunteering programmes.

Carole Urey, Chief Revenue Officer at Royal Voluntary Service, said employers often lack the capacity to run volunteering schemes even when staff are interested.

"Despite good intentions, millions of employee volunteering hours go unused each year because employers struggle to find suitable opportunities or lack dedicated resource to manage the process. GoVo for Business breaks down these barriers and unlocks workplace volunteering at scale - delivering greater value for businesses and society.

"We're excited to bring GoVo for Business to market and will continue to improve the platform using data, user feedback and product insights to make it increasingly valuable for organisations over time."

Royal Voluntary Service said the platform will continue to evolve based on usage data and feedback from employers, employees, and charities.