10 years of giving back - and why it still matters

This year marks 10 years of the Hymans Robertson Foundation. That’s a decade of supporting communities, backing brilliant charities, and giving our people the time and space to make a real difference.

I feel very lucky to have a front row seat on that journey as a trustee of the Foundation. Alongside that, I’ve also been involved in our Helping Hands committee, which supports volunteering across Hymans Robertson. Between the two, I’ve seen just how much we can achieve when we come together with a shared purpose.

I’ve also learned something important along the way - volunteering doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Often, it’s the small, consistent actions that make the biggest impact.

Seeing the impact up close

Being a trustee gives you a slightly different perspective. You get to see behind the scenes, the thought that goes into funding decisions, and hear from charities about the difference that support can make. You also see the ripple effects, from individuals to communities.

What stands out for me is not just the scale of the work, but the variety. From grassroots organisations to larger charities, each one has its own story and its own challenges. Our role is to help unlock potential, whether that’s through funding, expertise, or simply giving people confidence that someone believes in what they’re doing.

It’s easy to think of foundations as something quite distant or formal. In reality, it’s very human - it’s people supporting people.

Helping Hands - making volunteering happen

Alongside the Foundation, Helping Hands plays a key role in turning good intentions into real action across the firm. If the Foundation is about where we give, Helping Hands is about how we give.

That might mean helping colleagues find volunteering opportunities. It might mean sharing stories and ideas. Or it might just be giving people a gentle nudge to use their volunteering hours before the year disappears (which, speaking from experience, happens more quickly than any of us expect).

One of the things I enjoy most is seeing the range of ways people get involved. Some volunteer their professional skills, others get stuck into hands-on activities, and some do a bit of both. There isn’t a single “right” way to do it, and that’s exactly how it should be.

What I’ve learned along the way

Over time, a few themes have really stuck with me:

• Volunteering is often as valuable for the volunteer as it is for the organisation - it builds confidence, skills and new connections.
• Small contributions add up - a few hours here and there can collectively make a huge difference.
• People sometimes need permission more than anything else - we all have busy jobs, but having dedicated volunteering time helps turn good intentions into action.
• And perhaps most importantly, you don’t need to overthink it,  just start somewhere.
   

A gentle nudge

So, as we celebrate 10 years of the Foundation and mark Volunteer Week, if you’ve been meaning to volunteer your time for a great cause, now is the perfect time. If you’re not sure where to start, there’s plenty of guidance you can find online or in your own volunteering teams.

And if you already volunteer, thank you. You’re part of something that really does make a difference. We often talk about being a responsible business. For me, this is what it looks like in practice - people giving their time, their skills and their energy to support others.

Ten years in, that still feels like something worth celebrating.

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss further, please get in touch.