Halifax Insurance employees express heartfelt thanks with donations to over 100 coronavirus charity heroes

The company wanted to support charities that have helped the local community through the coronavirus pandemic, putting the power into the hands of its employees in choosing causes closest to their hearts.

The business was inundated with heartfelt nominations covering a wide range of issues from health, domestic abuse and poverty, through to equality, mental health and animal welfare. Faced with so many worthwhile causes, the company decided that as many charities as possible should benefit, resulting in a wave of giving across the Calderdale community.

Every charity nominated will receive a share.

One of the local beneficiaries, Healthy Minds Calderdale, provides help to those suffering from emotional distress and focuses on improving mental wellbeing.

As the 2020 charity partner of the Covéa Insurance Halifax office, the charity would normally have benefited from a packed programme of fundraising events which have not gone ahead because of the pandemic.

At the same time, demand for the charity’s services has increased, with the number of people seeking help with mental health problems rising due to lockdown, putting extra pressure on its service.

One of the Covéa employees who nominated the charity commented: “I believe that mental health issues can sadly be neglected even when there isn't a health crisis. A charity like Healthy Minds can help to fill that gap. These lockdown circumstances will, for sure, have taken a huge toll upon many people’s mental health and they are likely to be looking for support in the very near future.”

Healthy Minds Calderdale director, Jonny Richardson Glenn, said: “We at Healthy Minds were really looking forward to working with the people at Covéa Insurance as a charity partner this year, only for the pandemic to throw everything off course just as it was getting started.

"The team at Covéa, however, stayed in touch and have found different ways to support us and fundraise despite lockdown, culminating in this wonderful announcement.

"As an organisation that aims to support everyone in our community, we are honoured and grateful to get support back and this is a very welcome and timely boost – not only financially but also for morale, to know that what we do is valued enough for us to have been chosen as one of the beneficiaries of this funding. Thank you for your continued support.”

Covéa Insurance People Director, Lisa Meigh said: “Supporting and giving back to our community has always been an integral part of our company culture.

"Normally our people would be driving a jam-packed calendar of charity fundraising events and initiatives, but in light of the crisis and not being together they haven’t been able to do this. We know that many charities, large and small, have struggled with funding during recent months and that many of our employees are missing the opportunities to get involved and help their communities at a time when it is most needed.

"This donation has empowered our people to be able to help charities they feel passionately about by asking them to choose where the money goes. The response from our people has been overwhelming and their stories behind their nominations have been incredibly moving. We are immensely proud of the passion and depth of feeling of our people, and that we are able to support them in giving back to make a difference to so many charities that are missing out on vital funding due to the crisis.”

Other Yorkshire based charities nominated by Covéa Insurance employees set to receive a share of the £100,000 fund include: Aireworth Dogs in Need, Andy’s Man Club, Calderdale Community Foundation, Calderdale Lighthouse, Calderdale Smartmove, Elland Round Table, Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, Halifax Food Bank, Halifax Homeless & Community Kitchen, Healthy Minds Calderdale, Huddersfield Street Kitchen, Independent Domestic Abuse Services, Martin’s House Children’s Hospice, Mothershare Halifax, Nick Smith Foundation, North Halifax Food Bank, Overgate Hospice, Ravenscliffe School, RSPCA Halifax/Bradford/Huddersfield, St Gemma’s Hospice, The Hive Halifax, The Maurice Jagger Centre, Unmasked Mental Health Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Yorkshire Children’s Trust, Yorkshire Cat Rescue, Yorkshire Rose Dog Rescue.