Why corporate volunteers make a big difference
For Volunteers' Week 2025, we spoke with Jonathan from our partner Fitch Group about the power of volunteering and the importance of engaging young people in local communities.
How did you get involved with volunteering with IntoUniversity?
I initially got involved with IntoUniversity in 2024, through a volunteering opportunity offered by Fitch Group, where I work. Since then, I have participated in several such programmes at a variety of IntoUniversity locations around London. IntoUniversity’s mission is aligned with Fitch’s commitment to supporting access to education and employability.
What do you enjoy most about supporting young people through volunteering?
The programmes IntoUniversity design and run are a massive value-add to young people whose horizons may otherwise not have the visibility to the vast array of opportunities that going to university in a country like the UK – which is lucky to have many of the best universities in the world – may present to them, and just how accessible those opportunities may well be. I am more than happy to support any projects which serve to enhance that visibility and find IntoUniversity’s programmes – which have now been running for over 20 years – to be a really practical, tangible and established pathway to achieving that aim.
Do you have a favourite moment so far?
Probably the realisation of just how much applied thought, preparation and professionalism IntoUniversity has put into its programmes. Why, for example, IntoUniversity adopt an early intervention approach, and why it’s so effective. That realisation empowers my engagement even more since I recognise my participation is part of a coordinated and effective programme.
How has volunteering had an impact on you/what have you got out of it?
It has really enriched my connection to the city I live and work in (London), the local community and the citizenship I feel here. I have also developed my presentation skills a lot through volunteering since I have found that if I can explain something to a school class, in a manner that is interesting and accessible, then I have to really understand it first. Being able to recognise that and deliver presentations in my day job (to a much older audience), has served me well in terms of my preparation, presentation and thought-leadership skills.
Why is it important for organisations like Fitch to be engaging with young people through these volunteering opportunities?
Providing support to education and employability in our communities is deeply linked to the values we have as a company at Fitch. Our people constantly strive to do the right thing – for our clients, for our teams and for our communities.
We don’t just operate from a shiny tower on the hill with no real people coming in or out. By actively participating in programmes like this, Fitch volunteers get to share how they built their careers, speak to their formative educational experiences, and demonstrate how accessible organisations like Fitch are for young people who want to work hard, show initiative, pursue and realise opportunities presented by their potential. I hope that through my volunteering I can inspire students to advance in their careers and achieve their aspirations.