A communal employment support charity is experiencing rising demand as jobs are lost or threatened because of the coronavirus situation.

Resource reports that one-to-one appointments with its volunteer advisers are carrying on via Zoom. “So far they’re working really well,” said CEO Victoria Sterman. “Much of the meeting centres around reassuring the client and trying to keep up their morale.

“We have also run our first ‘Tools and techniques for today’s job market’ through Zoom. It’s a two-day workshop we’ve adapted to run virtually and it’s proving almost as effective as being in the same room. We even sent delegates into small discussion groups using Zoom’s break-out rooms feature. We will also be offering LinkedIn workshops and developing networking skills.

“We’re additionally starting a weekly virtual drop-in group for clients to keep in contact, get immediate advice and support and, very importantly, to feel part of a network.

Resource has been contacting alumni, “in case their jobs have disappeared and to remind them we are here to help”, Ms Sterman added. “Very sad responses have started to come in, with clients detailing contracts that have been abruptly ended, imminent redundancies and other doom and gloom.

“We’ve collated a list of organisations we know are recruiting — especially supermarkets — with links to apply and organisations that need volunteers so our clients can be productive [if they are able to]. These will be sent out in a new weekly bulletin.”

Examples of feedback include a client due to have an interview with a communal charity for a senior role, whose appointment was cancelled at short notice. Another had lost the opportunity of three-month contract as a credit analyst with a major bank.

On the plus side, two clients have had interviews this week “and our expectation is that many of the employers whose recruitment had been on hold will restart soon as they need to keep their businesses afloat”.