Wellbeing app onHand secures £1m and partners with Trainline

onHand, the world’s first on-demand volunteering app, makes employee volunteering as easy as ordering a takeaway has secured £1m in funding.

Named ‘Uber for Volunteering’ by IBM Watson, the company is on a mission to make it simple for businesses to engage employees whilst also giving back to communities.

The raise, led by Northstar Ventures, is followed by the launch of its latest partnership with Trainline, the independent rail and coach travel platform globally. The raise is backed by Dhiraj Mukherjee, co-founder of Shazam, UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Healthy Ageing Challenge and is supported by existing investors.

Funds secured aim to fuel an extended period of growth enabling employees everywhere to feel great by doing good in their community.

onHand CEO, Sanjay Lobo, says: “According to Deloitte, 77% of employees say volunteering is “essential” to employee wellbeing. The problem is only 38% agree their employer supports their volunteering needs with engaging solutions. In the last year, Deloitte also found an “unprecedented” rise in employee loyalty for organisations that meet their employees’ need for purpose. That’s a trend that will only increase: the companies that will win in the future are those focused on responsible business and the shift to profit with purpose. We’re making that transition simple for all forward-thinking businesses, fulfilling multiple employee wellbeing needs at the same time”.

Jody Ford, CEO at Trainline comments: We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with onHand – through the onHand app, volunteering is more accessible to our team, providing them with greater choice and flexibility. In the same way that the Trainline app makes booking and managing train travel easier, it makes complete sense to us to leverage mobile technology to make the process of volunteering simple. It’s well understood that giving back promotes a sense of wellbeing, so I’m really pleased we’re able to make it easier for our people to support causes which are important to each of them.”