UK: Inter-city operator LNER has launched the LNER Reserves scheme to connect its staff wishing to volunteer during the coronavirus pandemic with organisations including the National Health Service, the emergency services, partner charity Campaign Against Living Miserably, FareShare, The Trussell Trust, Age UK and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
More than 100 staff have already signed up. Duty Team Leader Stuart Rawcliffe is a part-time fire fighter and trained to drive ambulances; he has been temporarily freed from his LNER duties so he can support the NHS.
Apprentice Rene Kotlar is volunteering with a food charity, and Customer Experience Host Julianna Laszlo is providing telephone support for people who are self-isolating.
‘It is a way for colleagues to get involved in volunteering right across our route’, said Managing Director David Horne on April 15. ‘At LNER we’re doing all we can to keep key workers moving during this challenging time, and we also want to stay connected to the communities we serve and help to support them.’
