This Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June 2020), the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, is shining a light on the people professionals who have been volunteering their time to support individuals and businesses throughout the Coronavirus crisis. 

CIPD members have been providing support to organisations and individuals impacted by the work-related challenges that have occurred as a result of the pandemic, with skills on offer including coaching, change management, and supporting managers and leaders. 

New research from the CIPD found that 75% of its members would like to be involved in volunteering now, while a further 23% would like to help out at a later date. The survey also found:  

• 47% are already or would like to be involved in Covid-19 related volunteering within their local community or through the NHS
• 66% of volunteers can spare 1-5 hours per week to volunteer right now
• 93% wanted to be contacted about volunteering opportunities. 

Around 5,000 CIPD members are involved in the professional body’s existing volunteering programmes. The CIPD, a registered charity championing better work and working lives, reviewed its volunteer services as the Coronavirus crisis unfolded. In April 2020, the CIPD partnered with the Charities HR Network to provide free mentoring support to help small charities manage their organisations during this period of uncertainty.  

The CIPD’s established Steps Ahead mentoring programme already offers employability support to young people, parents and carers through over 2,500 mentors - all of which are CIPD members. In response to the crisis, the programme is being refreshed to provide further support to those that have become unemployed as a result of the Coronavirus crisis. Support will include CV and interview support for those who need help to repurpose their skills and experience, and longer-term mentoring. 

Jemeela Quraishi, Social Impact and Innovation Lead at CIPD, comments:

"Many of our members are already actively engaged in volunteering through our existing programmes. As working lives have been disrupted by the Coronavirus outbreak, we were keen to harness this expertise and provide further support to organisations and individuals to help them navigate new ways of working and the work-related challenges they are experiencing.

"Our survey shows that there is huge appetite among our members to use their HR skills to support organisations through volunteering and the CIPD is well placed to facilitate this. Volunteers’ Week is a time for us to recognise and thank HR and people professionals for their efforts."

Charities who are looking to access support and those who would like to volunteer can email volunteering@cipd.co.uk for more information.  

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