Hospices typically form a core part of our fundraising efforts, as they are key to local communities. Hospices we have worked with include the Martlets Hospice in Hove, Acorns Hospice in Birmingham, Ty Hafan, George Thomas Hospice Care, The Joshua Foundation in Cardiff, and the Prospect Hospice in Swindon.
Adding community support to these important organisations is vital but there is a greater public debate as to why these sorts of organisations are not Government funded if the trend towards palliative end-of-life Hospice care continues.
To improve our support and understanding in this area, John Pollock, Group Executive Director (Risk), and his Senior Management Team, have been actively supporting a nationwide organisation, The Children’s Trust, in the form of fundraising, resources, expertise and volunteering.
Since April 2007, Legal & General and its employees have donated nearly £84,000 to the Children’s Trust and have undertaken gardening challenges, donated items for the 13 charity shops and taken children out on trips. In July 2008, 60 Legal & General employees renovated the nature trail at the Trust. John Pollock has also been appointed as a governing member of The Children’s Trust to help the Trust deliver its aims as well as increase his understanding into some of the governance challenges of running such an important organisation.
Angela Turner, the Trust’s Corporate Relations Manager, explains: “Legal & General is one of our biggest corporate supporters and their financial support has made an incredible difference to the children we look after who have profound disabilities and complex health needs. The money over the last two years has gone towards our biggest-ever fundraising project, which is to build the UK’s largest national brain injury rehabilitation centre.”
She goes on to say: “This year, the Legal & General team is our largest corporate Marathon team ever, providing awareness about the Trust across all Legal & General offices.”