Personal Group is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest initiative: a Volunteering Leave Policy aimed at supporting community engagement and solidifying its reputation as an Employer of Choice. This policy recognises the significant impact volunteers can have on local communities and how volunteering can instil a sense of community and purpose among its employees.  

At Personal Group, we believe in the power of volunteering to make a positive difference. Our new Volunteering Policy underscores our commitment to supporting employees who wish to volunteer during working hours, and we have enabled this by ensuring conditions and processes are in place to facilitate this. Every year, Personal Group employees are entitled to one day of paid volunteer leave, which can be taken in half-day increments or even hourly blocks. This approach provides employees with the flexibility to integrate volunteering into their schedules effectively. 

Through our Personal Assurance Charitable Trust (PACT), we provide funding to support various charities and specific projects. All employees can donate £100 per year to a charity of their choice, and PACT matches any individual employee fundraising efforts up to £500.  

Since 2015, Personal Group has been dedicated to creating lasting impacts through strategic partnerships and charitable contributions. Personal Group began an exciting partnership with the Memusi Foundation which works with communities in Kenya and Tanzania to provide hope through education. As part of this, funded volunteering trips twice a year were offered to the school that our staff built in Africa, in work time, without impacting staff annual leave allowances. This project exemplifies the dedication to making a significant difference in the lives of many and in May 2024 the company sent another team of Personal Group employees to work with the Foundation. 

Looking forward, Personal Group is now championing projects and communities closer to home starting with a new partnership supporting a local primary school. Employees based at the Milton Keynes head office can volunteer their time by supporting fundraising activities,  offering their time in a range of initiatives, such as classroom support reading with the children and painting outdoor play equipment. Oldbrook First School and Nursery educates and supports pupils from a diverse community, championing outcomes for pupils who may be disadvantaged or have complex needs. Personal Group is delighted to fund the creation of a new sensory room which should be ready to welcome children from the Autumn term.  

With the introduction of a volunteering platform - Do It – Personal Group employees can access a wide range of nationwide volunteering opportunities. 

Claire Harbord, Chief People Officer of Personal Group, stated: "We recognise the positive difference that volunteers can make to our local communities and how volunteering can provide employees with a sense of community and purpose. Our policy sets out our commitment to supporting employees who want to volunteer during working hours and ensures there are clear conditions and processes in place to achieve this. We understand that volunteering opportunities are diverse, and we support any activity that positively impacts the community, vulnerable people in our society, and improves the environment." 

Claire Harbord concludes: “We are excited about the future of these projects and the continued impact Personal Group will make through our volunteering and charitable initiatives. We are thrilled to see the new sensory room and how much it will benefit the school.” 

For more information about Personal Group and our initiatives, please visit our website at 

www.personalgroup.com