Volunteering charity Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) has appointed Southampton University Students’ Union chief executive Jim Gardner as director of people.

Gardner has two decades experience of senior charity and public sector role, including the University of Kent’s student union., where three quarters of its 3,000 workforce are volunteers.

He joins RVS as it continues focusing on responding to the Covid pandemic, including supporting the NHS.

“The charity continues to grow its impact across Britain and will look to Gardner to build and develop its increasingly diverse volunteer and staff workforce,” said the RVS.

The charity’s chief executive Catherine Johnstone said: “I look forward to welcoming Jim to Royal Voluntary Service.

“He brings depth of experience and a rare blend of skills spanning volunteer development, human resources management and organisational development.

“We’re at a fascinating time in the history of Royal Voluntary Service, we have mobilised hundreds of thousands of volunteers for the NHS during the pandemic response and we continue to innovate and play forward the vital role of volunteers across Britain.”

Gardner added: “Royal Voluntary Service has played a key role in British society for over 80 years and during the COVID pandemic it has risen to the challenge and been instrumental in supporting the NHS.

“I feel hugely privileged to be joining such a wonderful charity, particularly during this chapter of its story.”

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