Professional volunteering-'part of big society'

8 September 2010

ePolitix.com speaks to Chris Hanks, president of the Chartered Insurance Institute, about the publication of its 'Paper in Professionalism' on pro bono work

Why has the Chartered Insurance Institute published a paper on pro bono and professionalism?

The CII is at the forefront of promoting consistent standards of competence and ethical conduct in insurance and financial services. But we believe this is only part of the professionalism picture, and that 'giving something back' through in-kind work for the public, or volunteering in support of the community, also plays a part.

Why is doing pro bono such an important feature of professionalism?

Pro bono work is a hallmark of the true professional. It enriches our society, and has the added benefit of enhancing trust and confidence in our profession. We would go so far as to say we firmly believe that participating in such pro bono schemes should be as much a part of being a professional as passing exams, attaining qualifications, and doing CPD. Taking part in such pro bono work also chimes with the mood of greater engagement by businesses in civic society. Whether the practitioner is a financial adviser giving gratis money-counselling to a Citizens Advice Bureau client, helping out in the local school, supporting the good work of a local charity, or even helping the professional body; the activities bring untold benefit.

Do you see pro bono and volunteering by professionals as part of the prime minister's 'Big Society'?

It could well be. The government is looking to reduce the dependence on the state by outsourcing work to the private and voluntary sector whilst at the same time building stronger communities.

Research has proven that volunteering by professionals is consistent with building these stronger communities. When firms send employees to do volunteer or gratis work within the community, their work transcends social, business environment and economic lines; they also generate new ideas and new thinking from those interactions. Pro bono and volunteering helps to create a more joined-up, cohesive society characterised by interlocking community and business networks. It is quite literally a situation in which everybody wins.

What sort of pro bono activities are CII members undertaking?

There have been numerous schemes undertaken by CII members, including advisers from the Personal Finance Society (PFS) who provide a vivid picture of why such work is part of the DNA of professionalism.

Financial advisers from the CII Group's Personal Finance Society have been providing free services to consumers referred by their local Citizens Advice Bureau. This joint PFS-Citizens Advice project known as MoneyPlan piloted the practicality of helping people understand and plan their finances without promoting the sale of any product. The initiative began as a small-scale pilot and proved such a resounding success that the initiative was re-launched on a wider scale.

Meanwhile, it is estimated that insurance practitioners donate at least 45,000 hours a year working in the public interest in support of their profession (for example, setting and marking exam papers or serving on local institute councils).

What more can professional bodies do to promote pro bono work?

There is much more work to be done, and the examples of good practice in our paper must become more widespread. Professional bodies can play a vital supporting role in making this happen. This can take the form of pooling willing practitioners, marshalling them to appropriate activities, and encouraging others to take part.

In the future, professional bodies could also incentivise pro bono work amongst its members. It could be that pro bono work counts towards the continuing professional development requirements, and perhaps even make it part of the essential training that senior practitioners must undertake to attain a qualification.

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