Connecting for change

When people connect I truly believe that great things can happen. And bringing people and communities together, weaving valuable human connections, is the thread that runs through everything we do here at Ecclesiastical – and always have done. It’s how we’re helping to bring about positive change.

It’s been inspirational to look at the work of charities such as Safe Families UK and to see the power of connections at play. To see how local church volunteers are bringing hope and vital support to families in need. Or to see how The Hygiene Bank has given people living in poverty a sense of self-worth and the confidence to take up their place in society.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, these vital human connections are under threat – the already vulnerable are feeling more vulnerable still. Now more than ever, we have to look after each other. To support communities and charities – who are having to pivot, adapt and find the best ways to reach those that need help at this unprecedented time. It’s why we’ve boosted our efforts to support emergency appeals and are funding projects to help get us through this pandemic and beyond – both through our own giving and the profits we provide to our charitable owner, Benefact Trust.

In 2019 we gave £32.5m to help charities throughout the UK, Ireland, Canada and Australia. And since setting ourselves a £100m giving target in 2016, we’ve donated more than £97m to over 7,000 charities that are tackling the big issues, like poverty, disability, education, health and heritage. And in true Ecclesiastical spirit, we’ve already got our sights set on £100m+. We’re proud of this ambition and proud to be one of the UK’s top five corporate donors to charity.*

Over 135 years ago our founders created a very different kind of business. We’re a financial services group that exists to give its profits to charity and we’re proud to be giving back to the communities we serve and championing the issues that really matter to them – connecting people, so that together, we can build a movement for good.

Mark Hews
Group Chief Executive
Ecclesiastical

* Fourth in the list of the UK’s corporate donors to charity in the Directory of Social Change’s 2017-18 UK Guide to Company Giving