As part of Serve the City’s commitment to responsible and sustainable service, I had the opportunity to facilitate an ESG workshop for volunteers. The aim was simple. To make ESG understandable, relevant, and grounded in everyday volunteering.
I began the session by reframing ESG, not as a corporate concept, but as a practical way of describing how we care for people, how we care for the planet, and how we build trust through clear and responsible ways of working. For many volunteers, this was a moment of recognition. Much of what we do at Serve the City already reflects ESG values, even if we have never named them that way.
When we explored the social dimension, the discussion naturally centred on dignity, inclusion, and respect. We spoke about how social impact is shaped by small, human interactions — how we listen, how we speak, how we protect privacy, and how we ensure safeguarding. Volunteers shared reflections on how service goes beyond delivering support; it is about preserving dignity and creating safe, respectful spaces for everyone involved.
The environmental dimension focused on practical responsibility in daily operations. Together, we discussed simple actions such as reducing waste during activities, choosing reusable materials, and being mindful of the resources we use. These examples helped show that environmental care does not require complex systems. Instead, it starts with awareness and intention in everyday choices.
When we moved to governance, I emphasized that accountability and structure are not barriers to compassion, but enablers of trust. Clear roles, shared guidelines, and safeguarding measures exist to protect beneficiaries, volunteers, and the organisation itself. Volunteers reflected on how good governance supports transparency and helps ensure that good intentions lead to positive and ethical outcomes.
We also explored measuring impact in simple ways. Rather than focusing on formal reports, I encouraged volunteers to think about basic indicators and reflective questions: Are we reaching the people we intend to support? Are we acting respectfully? Are our actions consistent and fair? Measuring impact was framed as a learning process and a way to improve and stay aligned with our values.
Throughout the workshop, one message became clear: ESG is not corporate jargon. It is a language that helps give structure to the care, responsibility, and integrity that volunteers already bring to their work. When small actions are supported by simple frameworks, they become more consistent, more sustainable, and more impactful. Facilitating this session reinforced my belief that meaningful change is built through everyday choices. By aligning our actions with shared values and clear principles, Serve the City can continue to serve communities with dignity, accountability, and care for people and for the planet.