UK-based ICMIF member Simplyhealth has launched SimplyVolunteer, an internal platform for all its employees to explore and sign up to volunteering opportunities across the UK.
The platform is provided and developed by Do-it.org, the nation’s first and largest digital volunteer matching site, enabling all employees at Simplyhealth to take part in volunteering activities, increase skills, and support charities.
Each year, all employees are entitled to three days of volunteering for any organisation, charity or cause of their choice, which could be related to their role at work, an interest or hobby.
Wendy Cummins, Community Manager at Simplyhealth said: “Supporting our communities is at the heart of what we do and is an important part of our purpose. The past year has highlighted how dependant charities are on volunteers to ensure that they can deliver their services to many people.
“We have been working on SimplyVolunteer with Do-it over the past few months in preparation for when lockdown measures are relaxed. We are delighted to be able to share SimplyVolunteer with our employees to maximise our community outreach. We would also welcome charities and organisations to get in contact with us for any volunteering opportunities that they may have,” Wendy Cummins concluded.
Jason Catlin-Holmes, Head of IT Service Delivery at Simplyhealth, has been volunteering throughout the pandemic, seeing the value it can bring to himself and others: “I’ve always had a ‘built in’ need to help people and do some good.
“When the pandemic hit last year, I signed up to be a NHS Volunteer where I was put on call for anyone in need of assistance. I also had an email from St John Ambulance offering any NHS responders the opportunity to help out with the vaccine effort. I completed 35 hours of online learning, first aid training and how to administer the vaccine. A few weeks later, I was at the Southampton vaccination centre where we vaccinated over 700 people in one shift. I was absolutely exhausted but it felt amazing!
“I wanted to have some ‘normality’ back for me and my children. By me helping with the vaccinations, it brings us a tiny bit closer to that,” Jason concluded.
Simplyhealth says it is continuing to ensure that every day, every decision it makes, and every action – big or small – not only helps improve the health of the mutual, customers and communities, but also the health of everyone and everything it holds dear. For more information about Simplyhealth’s community impact, visit www.simplyhealth.co.uk/about-us/community-impact.
