Persimmon Homes has revealed plans to create a ‘volunteer army’ to help the NHS and local communities during the Covid-19 crisis.
The business has encouraged hundreds of staff to register for the Persimmon Voluntary Programme and has taken the decision to undertake an orderly shut down of work and temporarily close its sales offices across the country.
All Persimmon staff currently not working their usual pattern remain on full pay. It is these employees who are being encouraged to use the time to offer voluntary support to vital services.
Dave Jenkinson, chief executive of Persimmon, said: “I know many of our staff will want to support the country and vulnerable people through this crisis and that is why we launched the Persimmon Voluntary Programme.
“Staff who are not working their usual pattern are registering to be placed on a central database confirming they are prepared to carry out voluntary work to support local communities. We are absolutely thrilled that so many people have stepped forward. We now have hundreds of volunteers available for local charities, the NHS and communities to call upon.
To call on the support of the Persimmon Volunteers, please email your requirements to volunteer@persimmonhomes.com.
Persimmon has also has become one of the largest companies to sign Justine Greening’s C-19 Business Pledge. The C-19 Business Pledge is targeting not just the immediate challenges of coronavirus, but also the challenges of recovery.
By signing the document, Persimmon has vowed to support its own employees, offer clear advice to customers and provide practical help for communities.
As part of that commitment, Persimmon is supporting groups which benefit people aged over-70 with £64,000 of grants every month through its Community Champions scheme.
Community Champions has run since 2015, giving away two grants of £1,000 in each of the company’s 32 operating regions every month. It has been decided that the money will be targeted at over-70s groups for the foreseeable future.
