The Insurance Charities Spring Newsletter

Chocs away! The Insurance Charities partners with social enterprise supporting those with autism

The Insurance Charities is thrilled to be partnering with Harry Specters chocolates - a social enterprise set up by Mona, Shaz and their son Ash, who has autism.

While visiting a chocolate shop on a holiday in Scotland in 2011, Mona discovered a perfect way of combining her passion for creating positive change for people with autism with her love for chocolate.

Ash came up with the name and a year later, Harry Specters was born - dedicated to crafting delicious chocolates that create employment for young people with autism. They are involved in every aspect of the business – from making and packaging the products to administration, design and photography.

Since the company inception in November 2012, the company has had 260 beneficiaries which mostly includes young people with autism, who have learnt new skills, resulting in increased confidence, hope, and aspirations for their future.

We are excited to be including Harry Specters chocolates in our Awareness Week charity boxes and bags this year, so you will soon be able to sample them for yourselves!

Are you ready for The Insurance Charities Awareness Week?

This year’s awareness week will take place between 17–21 June, and we hope our supporters throughout the British Isles will get involved.

The aim of awareness week is to let as many insurance employees as possible know about their charity, and that we are here to provide help and support to those in the industry in times of need.

People are often surprised that we don’t just help those in insurance, but also dependent relatives as we know that when misfortune strikes, whatever it is, it can affect the whole family.

Please follow us on Twitter and don’t forget to use the hashtag #ICAW. If you are organising any activity during the week, do let us know and we’d be pleased to support your efforts on social media! Finally, do look out for our awareness boxes in your offices – if you’ve not yet ordered yours please email us today.

Dementia support – opportunities available through new pilot initiative

The Insurance Charities has launched an exciting partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society, which campaigns for change, funds research to find a cure and supports people living with dementia.

This partnership offers a fast track support opportunity to all insurance people who have either been diagnosed with dementia or have someone close to them who has. We can now refer you to a specialist dementia adviser for information and support.

In addition, there are also volunteering opportunities available if you’d like to help support those with dementia. This could be via the phone, by offering a friendly ear, or in person by accompanying someone to the shops or the library for example. The project is being piloted in the Midlands initially, and we would encourage you to get in touch today to find out more about this fantastic opportunity.

Volunteering opportunities with The Silver Line

To provide expert help and support for our beneficiaries we partner with specialist charities. One of these partnerships is with The Silver Line - a charity dedicated to providing information, friendship and advice to older people, part of which involves providing a befriending service to combat loneliness.

We are looking for volunteers to write to or call an older person who may be feeling very isolated. Having regular contact once a week or once a fortnight could really improve their well-being. If you would like to take part please get in touch and we can tell you more.

Domestic abuse – could you spot the signs?

Preventing and tackling domestic abuse is an integral part of the duty of care and legal responsibility employers have in ensuring they provide a safe and effective work environment for their staff.

The Insurance Charities has sponsored a free domestic abuse toolkit, produced by Business in the Community and supported by Public Health England in order to support those dealing with this sensitive and difficult issue. The practical toolkit is designed to sit within HR teams and with line managers to aid them, regardless of the size of company.

The Domestic Abuse toolkit helps employers identify signs that abuse may be happening, such as personality changes, becoming withdrawn, spending a lot of time checking their phone, or arriving at work early and staying late, behaviour that is different and unusual to how they were previously.

Please take the time to read the toolkit, and share with your colleagues and networks.

Annual golf day swings into action

This year’s annual golf day will, for the first time, take place at The Warwickshire Golf & Country Club in Leek Wootton on Wednesday 11 September.

The 18-hole championship course has great views to take in on your round, as well as wide fairways, large undulating greens, and plenty of lakes and water hazards to challenge you!

This is always fantastic day and provides the chance to network with colleagues from across the insurance sector and support your industry’s charity. If you have not yet reserved your place at this popular event you can find out more and book here.

If you are interested in donating a raffle prize or sponsoring an element of the event then please get in touch.

Would you like to share your story?

We have helped Max who has Cerebral Palsy Spastic Diplega and his family, by contributing to the cost of a pioneering operation which will enable him to walk unaided

Here at The Insurance Charities we want to raise awareness about the support available to those in the industry and highlight the life-changing impact the Charity can make.

If you or your family has benefitted from our support, and you'd be willing to share your story then we'd love to hear from you. You could perhaps feature on our website, in our awareness raising materials or, with agreement from you, in the media.

If you'd like to get involved please get in touch. Here are some examples of current case studies we are featuring.

On your marks for the 2019 Insurance Endurance karting event!

Once again, The Insurance Charities has been chosen as the charity partner for this year’s Insurance Endurance karting event.

The day will be held at PFI in Grantham, the UK’s largest outdoor karting circuit, featuring an impressive 1382-metre-long track, with 10 hair raising bends and challenging straights.

Teams of up to eight drivers are invited to enter this year’s six-hour endurance race, and is open to all companies from across the insurance industry. You can sign up here.

If you are interested in sponsoring the event or providing a raffle prizes then Insurance Endurance would love to hear from you.