Just before Christmas, ICMIF member Simplyhealth (UK) announced that it was donating a total of GBP 40,000 to nine local charities, to support them during what has been a difficult year for charities.

Simplyhealth has long-standing relationships with various charities in and around Andover and Winchester, where their offices are based. The mutual says its purpose is to provide access to healthcare for the many, for the long term and so these donations would help to support these charities over the festive period.

Simplyhealth says that due to reduced fundraising opportunities in 2020, national and local charities in the UK are suffering from reduced incomes and, as Christmas is the time for giving, the mutual would be donating an incredible GBP 40,000 to nine local charities who continue to make a difference on an immeasurable scale. The following charities will each receive a GBP 5,000 donation from Simplyhealth:

• Naomi House and Jacks Place
• St Michael’s Hospice (North Hampshire)
• The Countess of Brecknock Hospice
• Salisbury Hospice Charity
• Andover Neighbourcare
• MHA Communities - Winchester
• Alabaré

Wendy Cummins, Community Manager at Simplyhealth said: “It’s fantastic that we are able to support these local charities again this year at Christmas. They all do important work for our local communities, aligning with our purpose of making healthcare accessible for everyone.

“Christmas is a time of giving, and we hope that these donations can make a significant difference for the people that they support, through what has been a difficult year for everyone,” Wendy concluded.

In September 2020, staff at Simplyhealth also supported local charities with fundraising activity on behalf of Andover Foodbank and Winchester Basics Banks.

Running various internal fundraising activities, the Simplyhealth team created a new activity titled ‘Simply Food Fest’, which brought festival culture, food and healthy recipes together to raise money for the two foodbanks. The community challenge involved members of staff sharing their photos internally of healthy drinks and dishes which then unlocked a GBP 5 donation for these local food banks, with a target of GBP 2,500 for each organisation, which was reached.

At the time, both Andover Foodbank and Winchester Basics Bank reported having had their busiest months on record due to Coronavirus, distributing nearly double the amount of food boxes compared to the same time the previous year.

Wendy Cummins, Community Manager at Simplyhealth said in September: “At Simplyhealth, we donate 10% of our profits to charitable causes. This community fundraising challenge for our staff is a fun way to engage our employees through this difficult time, encourage healthier lifestyle choices and as a result, raise money for very worthy causes in our community.

Wendy continued: “In addition, we are also holding five healthy food webinars for our staff including a live cook-a-long session with Cook For Good, a not-for-profit social enterprise which supports local communities through food, where Simplyhealth has also recently donated GBP 500.”