The filth columnist

600 of my colleagues are heading out over the next three weeks to spend a day on one of a number of volunteering projects. This represents 40% of the workforce.

Not bad for a business that only switched its CSR programme around a year ago and has a whole raft of other opportunities for staff to get involved throughout the year.

"But what difference does a day spent doing a bit of painting or gardening really make?" I hear you cry. True, of the 35 projects organised, about half would fall into that category - the other half being more about skills transferance and fundraising for some good causes. It's also true that a guy that wears expensive suits with a paintbrush is probably the highest paid painter and decorator in the region. And as for the workmanship - make sure straight lines are not the most important thing to you.

A CSR manager at another firm told me that, in his opinion, suits painting schools make no real difference to anything and that where a firm can really make an impact is by providing professional help. I do not entirely disagree. But, and there is a big butt in this story, I would argue it is about "route to market".

The philosophy I adopt is to engage with people and feed their enthusiasm. Give them a nice soft gardening project to start with, before up selling them the harder stuff, where their brainpower is unleashed for the public good. One of the projects my firm has coming up is to inspire excluded teenagers to aspire to a life outside of crime. The organiser said it would be "challenging". I say, "bring it on!".

In my experience no one ever has a "bad time" on a volunteering project (unless there was some sort of planning fiasco). People take different positives at different levels from giving their time and energy. This may be simply the fun of having a day out of the office with your mates, to doing something that will positively affect the lives of others. Some people enjoy the chance to build new relationships and being given the chance to lead a team. If those people are looking to build their internal profile and/or CVs running a project can only be a good thing.

Me, I do it because the look on the face of someone that you've helped makes all the hassle worthwhile and yes, I've learnt new skills too - anyone want some floor tiles laid?

And another thing - nobody who takes part in a community project will turn down a future request for help on another, more stretching, CSR activity. If you have a business culture of opportunity and a commitment to doing the right thing (as most businesses would say they have), your community programme simply embeds what your firm stands for.

So when I'm asked on Tuesday, "how was your weekend?" I will say with a degree of pride that I walked 10k at midnight to make a difference and that there's another 599 people who care enough to want to make a difference in the next three weeks too..

No ifs, no buts, just get out there and do it.