The insurer held its annual charity carol concert at Gloucester Cathedral on Thursday 12 December 2019 and raised over £2,400 through ticket sales and donations on the night. As part of its commitment to creating a movement for good, the firm has doubled the donation meaning that four local charities and Gloucester Cathedral will each receive a share.
The annual event attracted more than 400 people and featured performances from the Ecclesiastical staff choir, Upton St Leonard’s school choir and the Salvation Army Brass Band.
Scrubditch Care Farm, near Cirencester, The James Hopkins Trust in Hucclecote, Longfield Hospice in Minchinhampton and The Salvation Army Gloucester will each receive a share of monies raised to support the work they do in communities across Gloucestershire.
Speaking after the service Mark Hews, chief executive officer at Ecclesiastical said: “2019 was a big year of giving for Ecclesiastical. The launch of our Movement for Good Awards enabled us to donate £1 million to good causes across the UK and, we will have given a further £120,000 to good causes through our Christmas giving campaign – 12 Days of Giving by the end of the year.
“Our annual Christmas carol concert is a long standing tradition that has allowed us to give tens of thousands of pounds to Gloucester-based charities over the years. I would personally like to thank our staff, brokers and partners for their continued support. Without them, we would not be in a position to give so much to support good causes right across the UK.
“My thanks also go to Gloucester Cathedral and Dean Stephen Lake for allowing us to host this annual event in such a wonderful and inspiring building.”
In August 2019, the firm revealed that is had donated £75 million of its £100 million target to good causes since 2016. It aims to hit the £100 million figure by the end of 2020.
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Scrubditch Care Farm, just outside Cirencester, provides farming-based activities for adults and young people with learning difficulties, challenging behaviour or mental health issues. It runs a variety of activities including working with animals, cooking and learning basic woodwork skills.
The James Hopkins Trust in Hucclecote supports the families of children with severe disabilities and life-limiting illnesses. The trust provides a wide variety of activities and all-important respite facilities for parents and siblings, it has supported more than 600 children and their families across Gloucestershire.
The Longfield Hospice is based in Minchinhampton. It supports adults with life-limiting illnesses, helping them to understand and cope with their illness and its impact on their lives and supporting them to live well. They also provide an ‘at home service’ which enables people to spend their final days at home if they wish.
The Salvation Army was established in East London in 1865. A Christian charity, it supports those living in poverty, the homeless and many other societal issues. Based in the city centre, the charity provides a wide range of activities including a drop in lunch, children’s Bible club and a parents and toddlers club.