Phoenix and JBW teams step up to help communities

A team of civil enforcement agents have been volunteering to help the NHS and vulnerable people during the pandemic, reports Mark Moran

Volunteers at a food distribution hub in north London

Volunteers at a food distribution hub in north London

The coronavirus emergency has seen many people step up to help their local communities by volunteering. The team at civil enforcement agency JBW Group are among the many thousands who have volunteered their time and expertise to ensure that vulnerable people receive essential medicines, regular supplies of food and do not feel isolated.

JBW Group works for many local authorities across the UK, collecting unpaid road traffic and parking debts. Once lockdown was introduced on 23 March, the company’s fieldwork was put on hold. This meant teams at JBW companies such as Phoenix Commercial Collections were either confined to administrative work or placed on furlough.

It was not long before managers such as Andy Cummins, business development and client director at Phoenix, began thinking about how they could match the talents of their staff with the projects being run by partner local authorities.

“As business as usual had dropped off quite a bit, we found ourselves with surplus resource,” says Cummins. “So, we offered voluntary assistance to all our clients to help with their efforts in tackling COVID-19. We offered people, vehicles and fuel, and several clients accepted our offer. We also had staff on furlough who wished to volunteer and they are also assisting clients with vulnerable individuals and families.”

There was a genuine desire among staff at Phoenix and sister agency JBW to pitch in and help the communities in which they work, with both working and furloughed team members coming on board. In all, some 22 staff from across the group have been volunteering.

The volunteers have been undertaking a wide range of activities, explains Cummins. “Our voluntary tasks range from: unloading trucks of foodstuffs and essentials at central local authority hubs; stacking shelves supermarket-style in food distribution centres; packing deliveries for vulnerable individuals, families and food banks; delivering the pack to homes and centres; and collecting essential NHS prescription drugs from pharmacies and delivering them to people who are shielding.

For example, JBW contacted Manchester City Council on 2 April to see if it could provide much needed support and volunteers to help distribute food at its local food banks. Within 72 hours enforcement agents Richard Gare and Paul Richards volunteered to help deliver food parcels to those in need.

“I’m helping to make deliveries as it is a big help to the community who can’t get out for themselves,” says Richard Gare. “It’s such a rewarding feeling knowing that you’re able to help out, especially given the fact that I’ve never had the opportunity to volunteer before, so when this opportunity came up, I didn’t hesitate to put myself forward to assist.”

Manchester City Council was very appreciative of the good work the Phoenix staff has been doing. Patricia Wilkinson, manager, parking, bus lane and CCTV services, said: “Please pass on our thanks to the guys who are giving their time to support Manchester City Council.”

Thomas Hewke, who works in enforcement support, has been volunteering for pharmacies in the Bexley area of London, delivering urgent prescriptions and medication for the elderly via the NHS. On top of delivering important medication, he also volunteers for Isolation Help, delivering essentials such as food and toiletries to vulnerable people.

Hewke reveals that volunteering has a two-way benefit, as being able to help has given him a sense of purpose during what are very strange times. He says: “There are so many people that are appreciative of our efforts. The most heart-warming feeling is when a 95-year-old lady thanks you at least 10 times for your help.”

JBW Group is also assisting Plymouth City Council, where enforcement agent Gordon Rice is helping to distribute medication and health packs to those in need of support and assistance.

Cummins himself has been helping delivering essential supplies in north London. He has been volunteering in Islington where a large leisure centre, the Sobell Centre, has been converted into a warehouse and distribution hub.

“My own role is not furloughed, but my workload has reduced, so I am managing to volunteer and get my work completed in the evenings,” he says. “In my role at Islington I am working alongside staff from various directorates, including parks and recreation, events management, housing, health and safety, environmental health and many more.

“The chap who is in charge of the warehouse here, Joseph Huxton-Mendy, is, coincidentally, from the council’s parking department. He is an apprentice in the middle of a project management apprenticeship!”

The JBW Group has paid tribute to the work that its team members are doing in the community. John Mason, client services director at JBW, says: “We couldn’t be more proud of the efforts being made by our colleagues who are busy helping others during this difficult time, including the most vulnerable.

“Teams across the group companies have worked incredibly hard to ensure we continue to provide the best possible service we can to our clients and it is truly a remarkable achievement.”

And while its staff are looking after the community, JBW is working to look after its staff during what is a stressful period, says Mason. “Whether an employee or a self-employed contractor, we are aware of the significant impact that the COVID-19 crisis has had on each and every one of us,” he says.

“So many of us have had to adjust to the challenge of working from home, whilst no doubt juggling family commitments and the restrictive, but necessary restrictions that have been placed on our ability to do even the most basic of activities that we normally enjoy.”

The company has kept in contact with staff and provided them a range of links and resources that they may find helpful should things become stressful. It is also ensuring that it will be ready to start operating once some level of normality is restored.

“Group company account directors and managers are actively working with clients on how we will transition back to full operations,” says Mason. “Through our active engagement and membership of trade associations and bodies, we continue to play a key role in ensuring that plans to recommence normal operational activity is carefully planned and ensures, above all, that those most impacted by this crisis are offered every assistance.”