One Day’s Effort
Welcome to One Day's Effort. We are here to encourage you to offer some help to the world. Our focus is encouraging people who have technical and other skills to help other people. It doesn't have to be a whole day, it could be just an hour. You decide what you can pledge. Have a look at the video and get the idea.
1
Step One
Pledge
Make a commitment
- Set out a clear description of what you want to offer
- Define the scope — a whole day, or just an hour
- Advertise on LinkedIn, or wherever suits you
2
Step Two
Act
Show up and do it
- Fulfil your promise
- Keep to your scope and timings
- Build on your network
3
Step Three
Tell Your Story
Share success and impact
- Tell people what happened
- Check in with the other person — was it useful?
- Reflect on how it impacted them, and how it impacted you
Hover (or tap on mobile) each step for the detail ↑
Below, you will find a history of pledges and stories that you can scroll through. If you get inspired then add your own pledge. It's then up to you to advertise your offer. I do mine on Linkedin but you can use a number of websites. Once you make a pledge, I will send you a starter kit to get you going. You can also share this kit with colleagues.
Stories
Pledges
Stories
Here are the stories and pledges again. Have a good look and get ideas for the kind of pledge you want to make. Here are a couple of examples :-
"I can offer some time to anybody who needs help configuring fixed assets in an Oracle fusion system. If you are stuck then let me know".
"Do you need a bit of coaching to prepare for a big interview? I am an HR exec and I can give you practice and feedback"
Recent Stories
Videos
A growing collection of video stories and tips from people who've made their pledge. Check back soon — new clips are added regularly.
Tom Intro
Pledge, Act and tell your story
Simom Weal - Guerrilla Gardener
North Walsham
Lee - Mentors other trainers
Sharing decades of experience
Video 4
Coming soon
Video 5
Coming soon
Video 6
Coming soon
Video 7
Coming soon
Video 8
Coming soon
Video 9
Coming soon
Video 10
Coming soon
Hints and Tips
Safety first!
1. Plan to do all of this volunteering online. Use Teams or Zoom or any other tool you like.
2. Do not overcommit. If you can only spare two hours then say so.
3. Be clear about your own bounndaries. Be explicit about what you can and cannot do.
4. Enjoy it!
Staying Safe While Volunteering
We want your volunteering experience to be safe, positive, and rewarding. Since all volunteering through our platform happens online, here's how to protect yourself and get the most out of it.
Before You Connect
- Check who you're talking to. Take a look at the person's LinkedIn profile — their connections, work history, and background — before agreeing to volunteer together. A very new profile with few connections is worth a closer look.
- Stay on the platform at first. Keep early conversations on LinkedIn or our site rather than switching straight to personal phone numbers or private messaging apps. It's easier to sort out any issues if there's a record.
- Agree what's involved. A quick outline of what the volunteering will cover, how long it'll take, and what's expected from each side helps avoid confusion later.
Protecting Your Personal Information
- Never share sensitive details like your home address, financial information, date of birth, or passwords — volunteering through us will never require these.
- Consider using a professional email or handle rather than one linked to lots of personal information.
- Be mindful of photos and video backgrounds — they can reveal more about your location or home than you intend.
During Calls
- Use a blurred or neutral video background if you're not comfortable sharing your surroundings.
- Stick to well-known video platforms (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet) rather than an unfamiliar app someone else suggests.
- You don't have to turn your camera on straight away — take your time to feel comfortable.
Watch Out For
- Pressure to move off-platform very quickly
- Any request for money, gift cards, or financial details
- Reluctance to ever get on a call after lots of written messages
- Personal questions unrelated to the volunteering itself
- Being asked to keep the interaction secret
Setting Boundaries
- Agree set times for calls or messages rather than being available around the clock.
- Keep conversations focused on the volunteering itself, especially early on.
- You can end a match at any time, for any reason — you don't need to justify it.
Reporting Concerns
- If anything feels off, let us know at [your contact email/form]. We'll respond promptly. It's also a good idea to save key messages or screenshots in case you ever need to raise an issue.
Keeping Your Accounts Secure
- Use a strong, unique password and turn on two-factor authentication for our platform and LinkedIn.
- Be cautious of unexpected links or attachments from new contacts.
- Keep your browser and apps up to date.
Terms of Use
1. Nature of the Service
One Day's Effort provides general information and guidance to help visitors find and prepare for volunteering opportunities. We do not recruit, place, introduce, vet, supervise, or otherwise connect volunteers with any organisation, charity, group, or individual. Any volunteering activity a visitor undertakes is arranged independently, directly between the visitor and the relevant third party, and is entirely outside our control.
2. No Endorsement or Verification
References to third-party organisations, charities, causes, or opportunities on this site are provided for general informational purposes only. We do not investigate, endorse, recommend, guarantee, or take responsibility for the conduct, safety, legality, suitability, or reliability of any third party, opportunity, or activity mentioned or implied on the site. Visitors are solely responsible for carrying out their own research and due diligence — including safeguarding checks, DBS/background checks, insurance, and safety arrangements — before undertaking any volunteering activity.
3. User Responsibility
By using this site, you acknowledge and agree that:
Any decision to volunteer, pledge to volunteer, or act on guidance provided on this site is made entirely at your own discretion and risk. We have no control over, and accept no responsibility for, what happens once you act on a pledge, including your safety, wellbeing, or any loss, injury, or damage arising from your volunteering activity. You are responsible for assessing the suitability of any opportunity for your own circumstances, skills, and health, and for complying with all applicable laws and safeguarding requirements. It is your responsibility to satisfy yourself as to the legitimacy of any organisation or opportunity before engaging with it.
4. User-Generated Content (Pledges and Stories)
Pledges and stories submitted to the site are provided by users and reflect their own personal views and experiences. We do not verify, fact-check, edit for accuracy, or guarantee the truthfulness of any pledge or story submitted.
We accept no liability for the content, accuracy, or consequences of any pledge or story posted by a user. We reserve the right (but are not obliged) to review, edit, decline to publish, or remove any submitted content at our discretion, including where it appears false, offensive, unlawful, or otherwise inappropriate. By submitting a pledge or story, you confirm it is truthful to the best of your knowledge, that you have the right to share it, and you grant us permission to publish it on the site. You agree not to submit content that is defamatory, unlawful, infringes another person's rights, or is otherwise inappropriate.
5. No Guarantee of Outcomes
We make no representation or warranty that volunteering, or acting on any guidance provided, will lead to any particular outcome, benefit, or result. Any targets, statistics, or impact figures shown on the site (e.g. "X hours pledged") are self-reported by users and are not independently verified.
6. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law:
We accept no liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential loss, damage, injury, or expense arising from your use of this site, reliance on any guidance provided, or your participation in any volunteering activity, howsoever caused. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under English law. Guidance on the site is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional advice (e.g. legal, health and safety, or safeguarding advice) specific to your situation.
7. Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold One Day's Effort, its operators, officers, and volunteers harmless from and against any claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of your use of the site, your volunteering activities, or your breach of these terms.
8. Your Data
We collect and store your name and email address in order to manage pledges and stories. We do not display or share this information with third parties or other users. As we hold personal data, we are required to comply with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 — a separate, GDPR-compliant Privacy Policy is required in addition to these terms and is not optional.
9. Changes to These Terms
We may update these terms from time to time. Continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.
10. Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
Privacy Statement
Effective date: 28/06/2026
This privacy statement explains how onedayseffort.uk ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, and protects your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
1. Who we are
Data Controller: Tom Mcguire - Contact email: torrit@me.com
2. What data we collect
When you submit a pledge or a story on our website, we collect: Your name Your email address We do not collect any other personal data beyond what is described here.
3. How we use your data
We use your name and email address to: Send you a copy of the starter guide. Contact you to get updates on your story. Your name may be displayed publicly on the website (for example, next to your pledge and story. Your email address is never displayed publicly and is used only for internal purposes such as sending the starter kit.
4. Legal basis for processing
We process your personal data on the basis of: Legitimate interests — to operate and maintain the functionality of our website (Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR)
5. Data sharing
We do not share, sell, rent, or otherwise disclose your email address to any third parties. Your data is only accessed by us for the purposes described above.
6. Data storage and security
Your data is stored securely in a database hosted by Cloudflare.com. We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse.
7. Data retention
We retain your name and email address for as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected, after which it is deleted.
8. Your rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the right to: Access the personal data we hold about you Rectify inaccurate data Erase your data ("right to be forgotten") Restrict or object to processing Data portability Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent To exercise any of these rights, contact us at torrit@me.com.
9. Complaints
If you believe your data has been mishandled, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK's supervisory authority: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) Website: https://ico.org.uk Phone: 0303 123 1113
10. Changes to this statement
We may update this privacy statement from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.
Contact
My name is Tom Mcguire and this website is my idea. I am at the latter part of my career and it keeps occurring to me that I should be helping others.
I have experimented with volunteering and it has always been a good experience for me. I continue to do it and I want to encourage others to volunteer and share their experiences.
I've worked as a software trainer for over 30 years. I used to be a principal education consultant for Oracle in the UK. I've spent the last 20 years freelancing as an Oracle financials trainer. It has been fantastic and I have taught in Europe, South Africa, India, China and the USA. I have had a dream career and it's time to start giving back.
Here is my linkedin profile.
Tom Mcguire Linkedin
You can contact Tom Mcguire by email
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