In response to the ongoing challenges faced by communities across the UK, ICMIF member and rural insurer NFU Mutual is delivering GBP 2.75m of funding for local and national charities in 2021. A part of this initiative, the insurer has donated GBP 2m to local charities through its Agency Giving Fund. This follows GBP 1million of support delivered by NFU Mutual’s Agency Giving Fund in 2020.

The GBP 2m Agency Giving Fund for 2021 has now been fully distributed, supporting local charities and communities across the UK to stay strong and resilient. To ensure these donations reached all corners of the UK and were directed where they’re needed most, NFU Mutual’s agency offices and branches, with over 300 locations nationwide, were given the opportunity to nominate local charities to receive a share of the fund.

From providing food parcels, to donating to frontline health charities and enabling outreach mental health services to continue, the Agency Giving Fund has helped charities across many sectors to keep their life-changing services going throughout the pandemic. Of the charities nominated to benefit from a donation from the Fund, half are providers of emotional and social support. One such charity is Mencap Mon on the island of Anglesey in Wales, who were nominated by NFU Mutual’s Llangefni Agency, where the donation will help fund the installation of a new wheelchair lift.

One third of supported charities were providing frontline healthcare, including 48 nominations for local community hospices. Other healthcare charities to benefit from the fund include the Air Ambulance with 26 agency nominations for local air ambulance charities, such as Air Ambulance Northern Ireland (pictured).

Charities providing emergency food supplies and shelter, such as local foodbanks, have also been supported through the Fund with 64 nominations from agencies. Many of these charities have experienced a huge increase in demand for their services, whilst their income streams have been affected by the absence of fundraising events.

Commenting on the community support measures undertaken by NFU Mutual for 2021, Nick Turner, Group Chief Executive of NFU Mutual, said: “Our Agency Giving Fund is a national initiative to deliver local support during the pandemic. These are exceptionally challenging times for all of us, and we know that NFU Mutual agents and their staff are best placed to identify causes in their local community who need support to deliver their vital service. Our key objective has been to direct this funding to where it really matters.”

Nick added: “NFU Mutual has been a proud champion of rural communities the length and breadth of the UK for over 100 years, supporting local causes is part of what we do day to day. So, it’s right that we’ve extended our support into 2021 to help our communities deal with the ongoing impact of Coronavirus and to help build resilience for the future.”