Allianz chooses 3 local charities to benefit from ‘Community Fund’ pledge

Authored by Allianz

After pledging a total of £30,000 last year, employees decide the first round of donations for 2021 will go to TALK Surrey, Surrey Care Trust, and the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT).

Allianz Insurance employees have chosen three Surrey charities to benefit from the latest round of donations from the Allianz Community Fund initiative, which was launched last year, managed by the Community Foundation for Surrey (CFS).

Allianz pledges a total of £30,000 each year to local charities close to its largest UK office in Guildford, Surrey.

TALK Surrey aims to support people with aphasia, an acquired communication disorder caused by damage to the language processing centres of the brain. They do this by enabling them to practise all aspects of communication in a supportive environment, thus promoting confidence and leading to increased participation and independence within the community.

For nearly forty years, Surrey Care Trust (SCT) has striven to improve the physical and mental health of the most vulnerable people in Surrey. This is by delivering counselling, mentoring and healthy outdoor activities, and also by tackling disadvantages such as poverty, unemployment and low skills that lead to poor health.

PACT runs a range of services to support prisoners’ families, prisoners, and people with convictions. They aim to reduce the harm caused by imprisonment, maintaining family ties, and achieving better outcomes for resettlement of former prisoners and families.

Carolyn Rich, head of brand and social responsibility, Allianz Insurance, commented: “As a business, we aim to secure the future for our customers, employees and for society. Guildford is home to our largest office in the UK and we’re delighted to have found a way we can support different charities in our local community.

“Our panel of employees were very impressed with the amazing work carried out by TALK Surrey, Surrey Care Trust and PACT, so we are delighted to be able to support all three.”

The donation will be split between the three with TALK Surrey receiving £5,000, Surrey Care Trust receiving £5,083, and PACT receiving £4,917 of the pledge. The beneficiaries of the next round from the Allianz Community Fund will be announced later in the year.

Richard Tweddle, Woking Learning Centre Manager, Surrey Care Trust said: “Thanks to this generous grant, STEPS will be able to continue to help Surrey’s most vulnerable young people to gain the qualifications they need to go on to college or an apprenticeship and develop the personal skills to thrive in life.”

Joanna Matthews, Fundraiser at TALK Surrey said: “TALK Surrey is very thankful for the support from the Allianz Community Fund. It is fantastic that such a well-known local company is supporting people with aphasia in their local community. It’s been a tough year and this really helps keeping the charity working.”

Emma Mortoo, Head of Fundraising at the Prison Advice & Care Trust (Pact) said, “We’re delighted to receive this grant from the Allianz Community Fund which will allow us to support imprisoned mothers and their children at HMP Send. Our team will be able to provide a warm, welcoming, relaxed environment for visiting children to enjoy, where families can build positive relationships and strengthen their bonds. And we hope, lay the foundations for a brighter future and a fresh start.”

To be considered for the Allianz Community Fund, applications can be made to the Community Foundation for Surrey. Details of how to apply can be found at www.cfsurrey.org.uk.