Volunteer time with the Hymans Robertson Foundation: making data work harder

Since September 2025, I’ve had the pleasure of volunteering with the Hymans Robertson Foundation (HRF), focusing on improving their data collection, reporting, and analysis. The aim was simple: make things easier and faster for the team, so more time and energy can go into supporting the young people and charities.

About the Hymans Robertson Foundation

The Foundation supports young people aged 16–25 across the UK, with a particular focus on four key areas: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London.

HRF works in partnership with charities by providing bursary funding that can be awarded to individuals who meet the agreed eligibility criteria. Support typically includes:

• Hardship costs (food, fuel, clothing and travel)
• Data, digital, and technology support
• Identification (e.g., obtaining ID documents)
• Education, training and employability-related costs
• Driving lessons (to support social mobility)

Bursaries are typically awarded up to £300 per person, although exceptions can be agreed where additional support is needed.

As part of the process, individuals can choose to share a short testimonial about what the bursary enabled them to do. Reading these stories is often moving and a powerful reminder that relatively small amounts of money can remove life-changing barriers.

A story that stayed with me

One story that has really stuck with me was from a young person who didn’t have any form of ID. Without ID, they couldn’t open a bank account, and without a bank account, they couldn’t receive their ESA payment. What should have been a minor administrative hurdle had become a hard stop.

A £60 bursary covered the cost of a provisional driving licence. That single document unlocked access to a bank account and, in turn, a route to financial stability. It’s a simple example, but it captures the real-world impact of the Foundation’s work.

What I’ve been working on

I’ve been using skills from previous roles to streamline parts of the bursary reporting process, improving data quality and reducing the manual time needed to collect, check and summarise information.

For a small team, every saved hour matters. Streamlining processes helps free up capacity for relationship-building with partner charities and for focusing on the decisions and support that only people can provide. It also means HRF can get clearer, quicker insight into what’s being funded and where demand is highest.

Why it’s worth getting involved

Volunteering with HRF has been a meaningful way to use my skills for good, and to learn more about the realities facing young people across the UK. I’m grateful to the HRF team for being so open and collaborative, and I’m looking forward to continuing the work.

If you’re considering volunteering, I’d encourage you to explore opportunities where your day-to-day experience can make a practical difference.

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss further, please get in touch.