Celebrating Volunteers’ Week with The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship (CSRF)
Did you know that every Civil Servant is entitled to special leave a year for volunteering?
Did you know that every Civil Servant is entitled to special leave a year for volunteering?
It is a unique benefit that is often underused, but it is one of the things that makes working in the Civil Service more than just a job. It is a way of life rooted in giving back, not just through policy and public service, but also through personal kindness.
So, spend your volunteer leave with the CSRF!
It is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact, and CSRF is a charity where your time can go furthest. Whether it is spending a day helping at a local CSRF lunch group, making a befriending call, emailing a retired Civil Servant for friendship or hosting a bake sale to raise funds, every action counts.
The impact of volunteering with CSRF is not just emotional, it is measurable.
- More than 1000 people receive visits & calls made by the CSRF’s befriending services in 2024.
- 554 people a month visited their local community groups in 2024.
- Their helpline answers hundreds of calls a year, offering reassurance to those with nowhere else to turn.
- And still, the need is growing. The number of retired people at risk of loneliness is set to increase by almost 50% by 2026.
With more civil servants retiring each year, your contribution, whether it is time, skills, or awareness, helps fill a gap that otherwise goes unnoticed. During Volunteers’ Week this week, The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship (CSRF) is shining a light on what these volunteering days can really do, and who they can reach. We’re starting with Jean, who previously worked at the Home Office and is now a retired civil servant, one of their most dedicated volunteers, whose journey proves that the smallest acts of service can have the biggest impact.
Jean’s journey with the CSRF began when she was still working in the Civil Service. “You were allowed to take up to five days a year to do voluntary activities,” she recalls. “That’s when I first found the CSRF.” Back then, Jean was simply looking for a way to make her volunteer days count. She started by offering her office and admin skills, answering phone calls, participating in events and supporting the CSRF’s small but mighty team.
Over the years, that occasional volunteering turned into something much more. Now retired, Jean remains a proud and passionate CSRF volunteer, taking part in everything from community engagement events to helping with internal projects. Her story is a reminder that volunteering does not always begin with a grand plan, it can be as simple as just showing up.
“It’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done,” says Jean. “And I’ve made so many new friendships along the way” Watch the full video with Jean: Meet CSRF Volunteer Jean
Who are the CSRF and what do they do?
The CSRF is a civil service charity that has given six decades of service to former civil servants. They are running engagement campaigns to promote their charitable services, volunteering opportunities, and a special digital donor option for serving civil servants to sign up to support them.
All the CSRF’s services focus on friendship and support and include local community groups, befriending schemes and information and advice.
For over 60 years, the CSRF has provided key services to retired civil servants across the UK:
- Befriending schemes: regular phone calls, letters, emails and home visits from trained volunteers.
- Local lunch and activity groups: a welcoming space for connection and conversation.
- A national helpline: offering support, signposting, and someone to talk to in tough moments.
The CSRF’s mission is simple but powerful, to make sure no retired civil servant feels forgotten. But the CSRF cannot do it alone, they need the help of people like Jean and people like you!
Contact the CSRF and Volunteer today!
Could your volunteering days help someone find friendship? Could it give you a sense of purpose you did not expect? Could it turn into something you look forward to every year?
Email CSRF: enquiries@csrf.org.uk
Visit: www.csrf.org.uk/volunteer-for-us/
If you are working in the Civil Service, you can become a Digital Donor for just £3 a year (less than the price of a coffee!). Join here and support your retired colleagues and be part of the community: www.csrf.org.uk/digitaldonor
If you are retired, transitioning into retirement, or know anyone who is, you or they can become an Annual Supporter this year at the reduced rate of £13.
You can join this growing network, create meaningful connections, and help support your community that will one day help you. Sign up here today: https://csrf.org.uk/support-us/annual-supporter/
Written by Hasnath Kalam, CSRF Marketing and Communications Manager