What two days at the Chelsea Flower Show with the Army Benevolent Fund taught me
Last week, I spent two days volunteering with the Army Benevolent Fund at the Chelsea Flower Show, and it reinforced something I believe, many UK businesses are beginning to recognise, corporate volunteering is not just good for charities. It is good for people, culture, leadership, and business performance too.
At a time when companies are under increasing pressure to improve wellbeing, employee engagement, social value, and retention, volunteering offers something refreshingly practical and human. It creates real connections, real perspective, and real impact.
More than just “Giving Back”
The phrase “giving back” is often used around corporate charity work, but after spending time supporting the Army Benevolent Fund during one of the UK’s most prestigious public events, it became clear that volunteering is far more reciprocal than many organisations realise.
The Army Benevolent Fund supports soldiers, veterans, and military families facing hardship. Behind the public-facing event presence are deeply personal stories of resilience, recovery, and support. Spending time with volunteers, supporters, and visitors at Chelsea reminded me how much charities rely not only on donations, but on people willing to contribute time, energy, and skills.
For businesses, that contribution can become incredibly valuable internally too.
The employee wellbeing benefits
Modern workplaces are facing significant wellbeing challenges:
- Burnout and stress
- Hybrid disconnection
- Reduced sense of purpose
- Low engagement
- Social isolation
Volunteering cuts through many of these issues in ways that traditional workplace initiatives often struggle to achieve.
1. It reconnects people with purpose
Most employees want to feel that their work — and the organisations they work for — contribute positively to society. Volunteering creates a tangible sense of contribution that cannot be replicated by corporate messaging alone.
2. It strengthens human connection
One of the biggest hidden challenges in modern work is disconnection. Teams collaborate digitally, but often lack meaningful interaction outside task-based conversations. Volunteering changes the dynamic completely. People communicate differently in charitable environments. Hierarchies soften. Conversations become more authentic. Collaboration feels more natural.
3. It improves mental wellbeing
Research consistently shows that helping others positively impacts mental health. Volunteering can reduce stress, improve mood, and increase overall life satisfaction. Stepping away from normal commercial pressures, even briefly, gives employees perspective. It allows them to focus on something immediate, social, and meaningful. That reset matters.
The business benefits are real too
Some organisations still see volunteering primarily as a CSR exercise or a branding activity. In reality, the business advantages can be substantial.
1. Better Employee Retention
Employees increasingly want employers whose values align with their own. Companies that actively support charitable involvement often build stronger loyalty and emotional connection with staff. People are more likely to stay where they feel proud of the organisation they work for.
2. Leadership Development
Volunteering environments develop skills like communication, adaptability, empathy, problem-solving and team coordination. These environments place people outside their normal routines, which often reveals leadership qualities that do not always emerge in office settings.
3. Stronger Company Culture
Culture is built through shared experiences, not slogans. When employees volunteer together, they build stories, memories, and relationships that strengthen workplace culture organically.
4. Reputation and Social Value
In the UK especially, businesses are increasingly expected to demonstrate measurable social value. Clients, employees, and communities want evidence of authentic contribution. Long-term charity partnerships and employee volunteering programmes provide visible, meaningful proof of that commitment.
Why charity partnerships matter
One thing that stood out during the Chelsea Flower Show was the professionalism and dedication within the charity sector itself. Charities like the Army Benevolent Fund operate with remarkable efficiency and resilience while supporting vulnerable communities facing complex challenges. Businesses often underestimate how valuable their practical support can be, not just financially, but operationally and socially. The strongest partnerships are collaborative where both sides benefit.
A simple starting point for businesses
Corporate volunteering does not need to begin with large-scale programmes or expensive initiatives. Start small by offering employees one volunteering day per year or partner with a local charity and support community events. The important thing is to be consistent and authentic.
Final Thoughts
Spending two days volunteering with the Army Benevolent Fund was a reminder that my work is not always measured commercially. Sometimes the greatest value comes from contribution, conversation, and connection.
For charities, volunteers provide essential support. For businesses, volunteering can strengthen culture, wellbeing, leadership, and trust in ways that many organisations are actively searching for.
In a working world increasingly dominated by screens, metrics, and pressure, volunteering offers something surprisingly powerful, a chance to reconnect people with people.