Francescas Volunteering Story
Modern law firms have to face a number of issues in order to operate sustainably. However, sustainability is about more than just the environment: social factors play a key role in creating a sustainable culture. Volunteering is an important part of social sustainability and in recognition of this, we wanted to share the volunteering experiences of some members of the Vario team.
Who’s telling us their story?
Francesca Rossi is a member of our Flexible Services team based out of Pinsent Masons’ Glasgow office. As a Senior Account Executive, her day-to-day role sees her work closely with Vario’s Clients and flexible consultants, building relationships with each in order to place professionals on assignments.
Why do I think volunteering is important?
"Volunteering is important for so many reasons. Many charities provide vital services to our communities and yet they are severely under-funded. Think of your local hospice, cancer support service or a counselling service like Childline - these are all charitable organisations and can only exist with the public’s support. Most charities are crying out for volunteers in several areas, from fundraising to administrative work to befriending.
For example, having spoken with a local children’s charity based in Scotland, they have seen an approximate 50% drop in volunteers since the pandemic. And according to research undertaken by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, only 17% of respondents took part in formal volunteering at least once a month in that 12-month period. That percentage has dramatically dropped over the years and previously sat at 45% volunteer participation in 2013/2014.
You also might get the chance to meet new people and build your network, even learn a new skill or challenge yourself in other ways. Volunteering can be fun to do and can be great for your mental health, potentially contributing to a more positive outlook and increasing your motivation in all aspects of life."
What volunteering have I been involved in?
"Volunteering does not have to be all consuming. You can offer as little or as much time as you want, depending on the opportunity, from a few hours a month to once a year.
I recently started volunteering for a local LGBTQ+ charity as it is something which I am enthusiastic about. I believe there is a charity out there for everyone that they can identify with and which they hold close to their heart."
Stay up to date
If you’d like to read more volunteering stories from the Vario team, then you can read our last piece here. To stay up to date with this and other work we’re doing, you can follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok.