£1.7 million support package for our partner charities
04 May 2020
The Zurich Community Trust (ZCT) has had one aim since 1973 - helping to support a more inclusive and resilient society; here's some of the ways we're helping to build resilient communities in these unprecedented times
Our current environment can be tough on anyone. But it’s a particular challenge for charities as its predicted the charity sector will lose a minimum of £4.3 billion over the course of the next 3 months, and at a time when more vulnerable people need their help.
The Zurich Community Trust (ZCT) has one aim – helping to support a more inclusive and resilient society and it’s something we have been doing since 1973 which makes us one of the longest-established corporate trusts in the UK. Here’s some of the ways we’re helping to build resilient communities in these unprecedented times.
Helping communities through donations
The Zurich Community Trust has allocated £1.7 million package of financial and volunteer support for our partner charities most affected by the Coronavirus up and down the country.
Donating surgical masks to keyworkers
We have donated 350,000 surgical masks to hospitals, hospices, air ambulance, police and health centres.
Supporting Dementia UK Helpline
Dementia UK has been one of our national partners for the last three years after being selected by Zurich’s very own employees. Over that time our grant award of £225,000 (£75,000 pa) has funded the cost of their Admiral Nurse Helpline. To help with the Covid-19 pandemic we have given Dementia UK, an additional grant of £75,000 to help fund extra nurses as they need to increase the number on each shift from 10 to 14.
How Zurich are supporting customers
Three months free cover for charities: At Zurich, we’re telling all charities and social enterprise customers with an annual premium of less than £5,000 to have three months’ free cover for all their policies.
Our motor insurance policies cover use for voluntary work: Our customers are automatically covered to use their vehicle for voluntary work purposes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Business as usual for our Engineer surveyors: Our Engineer Surveyors are continuing to work with our customers to ensure essential services keep running, whether thats recommisioning a steam-heated fermentation vessel that manufactures antigens, molecules that stimulate an immune response, which are key to producing vaccines, to boiler inspections at hospitals to ensure they continue to have heating and hot water.
#LoveZCT
Every year, through a combination of grant-making, volunteering and fundraising, Zurich Community Trust (ZCT) is able to support over 500 deserving causes across the UK and overseas.
But to make a meaningful difference to the lives of others, you need more than money – you need people!
We make our charitable giving go further by encouraging colleagues working for Zurich UK to donate both time and money through ‘Zurich Cares’, our community involvement programme.
Each year over 35% of the Zurich UK workforce share their time and business skills with the community. So our charity partnerships are powered, not just by pounds, but by people and the commitment and talent they bring.
You can keep up to date with all the latest ZCT news and snippets throughout the year by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.