Volunteering update

HSBC employees in the UK, like their counterparts in many other parts of the world, are working in new ways to support individuals, business customers and communities during the coronavirus pandemic.

Employees in the UK are volunteering their expertise in local and national projects to help the wider community. In HSBC Global Asset Management, they include Edward Hodge, a Senior Compliance Manager, who serves part-time as a sergeant in the British Army Medical Services Reserves. He was busy working when a call came in, urgently requesting his help. His unit had been asked to help build a new temporary hospital for coronavirus patients in a London conference centre, not far from HSBC’s global headquarters.

“My manager is supportive of what I do, and I went up straight away,” says Edward.

His role was to help coordinate the military’s contribution to the National Health Service’s (NHS) Nightingale project, bringing to bear his experience of running field hospitals. The temporary hospital has the capacity to house than 4,000 intensive care beds, which would make it one of the largest medical facilities in the UK.“I feel very proud of being a part of it,” Edward adds. “But the majority of the people in my reserves unit are NHS front-line staff. My contribution has been minor compared with what they’re going through. I feel in awe of them.” In addition to supporting employees who wish to volunteer, HSBC UK has donated GBP1 million to the National Emergencies Trust and British Red Cross Coronavirus Appeal. The donation is part of the USD25 million that HSBC is contributing globally to help people affected by COVID-19.

I feel very proud of being a part of it but the majority of the people in my reserves unit are NHS front-line staff. My contribution has been minor compared with what they’re going through. I feel in awe of them.