5 May 2010. Charities and community groups across the UK are set to benefit as Challenge 2010, the annual volunteer event organised by the Zurich Community Trust, the UK based charitable arm of leading financial services provider Zurich Financial Services, launches across the country.
Starting in 1990, Challenge is one of the largest corporate charity programmes in the UK. Every year Zurich encourages organisations local to its main offices to challenge its 7,000 UK based employees to help make a difference in their local communities. This year is a 'red letter year' for the company as it marks the 21st launch of the programme.
The first challenge took place in Swindon in May 1990 with the Allied Dunbar Telethon when over 27 hours, 200 staff took telephone pledges for ITV's Telethon Appeal. Since then Zurich employees have achieved a total of 2,186 challenges across the UK.
For 2010, the company received in excess of 192 challenges from organisations based around Zurich's main office locations in Fareham, Farnborough, Swindon, Cheltenham, Glasgow, Leeds and Birmingham. Details of the challenges were issued to employees and by the end of launch day, around 140 of the projects had already been taken up.
The challenges range from supporting Swindon Carers Centre with providing a makeover for their therapy rooms and taking 20 young carers aged 5-9 years on a fun day out to remember, through to helping to organise a sports day in Roundhay Park in Leeds for adults with learning disabilities, supported by People Matters.
Although many charities have developed close relationships with Zurich over the years through the Challenge programme, the company is always keen to identify new organisations to benefit from the scheme, such as Quarriers, a Scottish based charity who provide practical support and care for children, adults and families at any stage of their lives.
“This year will be the first time that we have worked with Zurich in Glasgow on the Challenge programme", says Louise McGinty, Volunteer Co-ordinator from Quarriers. ‘We very much look forward to meeting the teams who will be taking on two challenges for us - one painting and one gardening - and seeing them in action on their projects. These type of challenges can make a huge difference to the lives of those supported by Quarriers.”
Steve Grimmett, Senior Programme Manager, Zurich Community Trust, says: “Challenge is always eagerly awaited by Zurich employees with the projects being quickly snapped up. This year, in particular, we’re keen to pull out all the stops to make it a 21st Challenge year to remember, involving even more employees and making a positive and practical difference to a greater number of charities and community groups.”
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Clare Maynard, Zurich Community Trust
Tel: 01793 503712
Notes to Editors
About Challenge 2010
-
Challenge is Zurich’s biggest annual volunteer event. Employee teams get together to complete a one off project which benefits a local voluntary organisation. It’s fun to do and offers managers and staff a great teambuilding opportunity.
-
2010 marks the 21st year of the Challenge programme. The programme started in Swindon in 1990 and since then a total of 2,186 team challenges have been completed.
-
Last year, around 2,000 staff, together with some friends and family, completed 189 Challenges across Zurich locations across the UK.
-
Challenge 2010 was launched internally to Zurich staff in conjunction with Capita staff (in Cheltenham and Swindon) on 21 April. Staff from Birmingham, Cheltenham, Hampshire, Leeds, Glasgow and Swindon took up over 140 challenges on that day.
-
Challenge projects range from re-decoration, to entertaining a group of people (often a BBQ or party), to re-plant or clear a garden area to taking groups out on day trips. Sometimes, it can be providing volunteers for events, fundraising or collecting books.
-
These challenges will typically be completed anytime from now until the end of September.
-
Staff will meet up with the local charity to agree what needs to be done. Fundraising and asking for donated goods, to carry out the challenge, will then commence. Zurich’s Community Trust will match any monies raised by 50% - and up to 100% for the larger and more expensive Challenges. Health & Safety have vetted all Challenges and Zurich’s Health & Safety team is on hand if a further review if required.
