Another company focusing their efforts on helping those in need this Christmas are Peace of Mind Financial Services.
Managing director Nigel Wood explains: "In collaboration with the Rotary Club of Scarborough, we are organising the annual toy appeal where the community comes together to donate toys to underprivileged children in our community.”
Wood believes there is a huge need in the area. He says: “We feel we are able to make a difference in this way as we are a local business with our community at the centre.”
This is Peace of Mind’s 12th annual appeal. “It has grown year on year – starting with 360 toys and two businesses (including our own) in 2010, into the huge community effort, which last year collected over 23,000 toys at an approximate value of £250,000, working alongside 35 local businesses.
"We are privileged to be able to cover a 300-square mile radius, due to the volume of toys collected.”
Organising an appeal on this scale takes a fair amount of planning and organisation.
Wood says: “Initially, as it was on a smaller scale, it was relatively straightforward. As it has grown into what it is today, it has become an all year-round project, with meetings beginning in January, culminating with a Toy and Carol service at a local church.
"The support of social services and the 35+ local businesses, certainly help the efforts. We are also supported by our local MP and councillors.”
A recent industry-wide initiative took place on the eve of Advent, entitled Insurance United Against Dementia. This was a day set aside to help raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society to fight dementia.
Sponsored cycles, pot luck lunches and cake bakes, among other charity activities, took place across the country as insurance sector members and supporters galvanised efforts to help the cause.
Zurich UK kindly offered to match donations, up to £100,000.
Mountain top
Further afield, partners and employees of St James’s Place took on the world’s tallest mountain and took part in the Everest Basecamp Trek in Nepal, in aid of the charity ‘Supporting Nepal’s Children’ and the wider St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation.
The Supporting Nepal’s Children charity educates and funds school place for children in remote and impoverished Nepalese rural communities.
Tobias Colton, from Tobias Colton Wealth Management described the experience: “A few of my favourite memories were of the children we gave presents to on the trail and the look of awe on their faces as they watched bubbles float into the sky, or seeing the bounce of a ball, immediately causing them to belly laugh like they were laughing for the first time.
"However, that was probably topped by the day we arrived in Namche when I was with Hazel, one of the Trustees from Supporting Nepal’s Children, and was a stark reminder of why we were there.
