LONDON, 15 March 2002 - A new Trust programme from Zurich Cares, the charity arm of UK insurance giant Zurich Financial Services, is committing £1.5 million to a national programme benefiting older people in our community.
The Zurich Cares Older People programme is the latest in a series of strategic initiatives providing support and funding to carefully selected partners. These are often for issues which have difficulty attracting support, such as dementia, domestic violence and social exclusion.
Over the next five years, Zurich Cares will be seeking charitable partners who can demonstrate a clear understanding of the underlying issues associated with older people and deliver lasting change.
The programme plans to focus on areas such as:
- Homelessness among older people
- Re-engaging older people with the local community
- Supporting carers of older people
- Speaking up for older peoples' rights
- Co-ordinating charitable service provision
There are currently nine million people over 65 in the UK - a figure set to rise to 12 million over the next 20 years.
Neil Howitt, Zurich finance director and sponsor of the Older People Programme explained: "Supporting disadvantaged older people in our community is a real challenge, but one where targeted contributions can make a huge difference to quality of life."
Chris Staples, Director of Zurich's Community Trust added, "We are particularly interested in working with innovative new projects which set new standards. Whilst we cannot accept ad hoc applications, we would be keen to hear from projects that may fit our criteria."
Contacts for the programme are:
Jennie Shearer, Older People Programme Manager, on 01793 504017, or
Neil Howitt, executive sponsor of the programme, on 01793 506233.
ENDS
- Zurich Financial Services (UKISA) is part of the Zurich Financial Services Group and comprises the Group's operations in the UK, Ireland and South Africa.
- Zurich Financial Services (UKISA) Community Trust is a registered charity funded by pre-tax profits and by donations from staff and financial advisers. Almost one third of the staff are involved in volunteering activities, contributing 20,000 hours annually. Since 1972, more than £33 million has been donated to voluntary organisations in the UK and overseas. Nearly £5.1 million was donated last year alone. The Zurich Trust has been recognised for its work, winning the Whitbread Volunteer Action 'Company of the Year' Award, the Insurance Times Community Initiative of the Year Award and receiving the Programme Impact Mark for its India Programme from Business in the Community. Visit our website on www.zurich.org.uk for more details.
- The Zurich Financial Services Group (www.zurich.com) is a global leader in the financial services industry, providing its customers with integrated and web-enabled solutions in the area of financial protection and asset accumulation. The Group concentrates its activities in five business segments: non-life and life insurance, reinsurance, Farmers Management Services, and asset management. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the Group's worldwide presence builds on strong positions in its three key markets - the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. It has offices in more than 60 countries serving 35 million customers and employing approximately 70,000 people.
For further information, please contact:
Kate Hodges, Zurich Cares Community Trust 01793 503711
Kitty Barran, Zurich Financial Services, 0207 317 3840
