We care about strengthening the communities in which we live, work and do business.
Along with helping our customers to build stronger and more financially secure futures, we look to create change and have a positive social impact. Below, you’ll find some of the work we’re doing to strengthen the communities in which we live, work and do business.
We’re pleased to support a number of charities tackling important issues
Initiated in 2021, we run a community grants programme which provides our colleagues with an opportunity to apply for a grant to support a chosen charity or community organisation.
Since its launch, the programme has supported over 100 causes, from schools and children’s sports clubs to health charities and animal shelters.
We work with Neighbourly to help our colleagues volunteer with causes of their choice. Every Canada Life UK colleague is given the opportunity to take two days off work per year to volunteer, either on their own or in a group.
We support our colleagues in their personal fundraising efforts. Colleagues taking part in sponsored marathons, walks or cycling events, amongst others, can receive a corporate donation to their cause.
In addition to the donation, we support these efforts by helping colleagues spread the word via internal channels and provide other resources where possible. Recent examples include a colleague undertaking 90 miles of walking for the charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), and a cohort of colleagues cycling from London to Brighton in aid of the British Heart Foundation.
We’re keen to identify charitable partnerships where we can make a positive impact. Recognising the role we can play in developing the skills of the future, our asset management business supports local charity, Hackney Quest, to provide maths mentoring to young people from the London Borough.
“With Hackney Quest, we saw an opportunity to work with a great charity and inspire an interest in a sometimes-neglected subject – maths. It’s an essential competency, and not just in financial services. We were pleased to transfer some of our knowledge to young minds.”
- David Marchant, Chief Investment Officer, The Canada Life Assurance Company & Managing Director, Canada Life Asset Management Limited
Each year, our colleagues vote to select a local charity to support. While these cater to the unique needs and priorities of our neighbouring communities, they also provide our colleagues with opportunities to make a difference to causes close to their hearts and homes.
We’re delighted that two incredible causes were chosen as our Charities of the Year 2024. We’ll be championing the Marmalade Trust, based in Bristol, and Live at Home, located in the Isle of Man.
We'll be contributing to our Charities of the Year in four key ways:
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Where possible, we make ad hoc donations. In 2022, this included UNICEF’s emergency relief work in response to the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria as well as the war in Ukraine. For UNICEF’s Ukraine Emergency Appeal, we joined with our European businesses in Ireland and Germany to fundraise, together raising a total of €395,000. This comprised of €145,000 in employee donations and €250,000 as a corporate donation.
In 2023, we provided financial support to The Trussell Trust, the Isle of Man Foodbank, and Capuchin Day Centre. Along with emergency food parcels, these organisations also assist people in breaking free from poverty by tackling underlying issues. This includes services like debt advice, mental health support, or benefits guidance.
We enable our colleagues to support our chosen corporate charities through our payroll giving funds. With matched giving, Canada Life matches the colleague donation, and with Give As You Earn (GAYE), colleague donations receive tax relief from HMRC.
Our payroll funds have supported a variety of charities operating locally to our UK Division offices, including:
Content approved: 19/07/2024
