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The Insurance Charities announces 'Insurance Has Talent' competition 2012

London Marathon 2012The Insurance Charities is delighted to announce the launch of this exciting competition. A chance for the insurance industry to come together and organise its own talent competitions- offering individuals the chance to showcase their talent. These competitions will produce a winner to enter into the Grand Final, being held in December 2012. Find out more.

The Insurance Charities and 2012 Virgin London Marathon

London Marathon 2012Andrew Warrender, President Elect of the Insurance Institute of Leeds takes on the challenge of running the Virgin London Marathon 2012 for The Insurance Charities. He is aiming to raise funds in excess of £1000 and has already made a fantastic start. You can read all about him in this article soon to appear in the Insurance Institute of Leeds magazine.

21st Nov 2011: Newsletter feedback

Please provide us with some feedback on our latest newsletter. We would be grateful if you could take 5 minutes to complete a quick survey about our newsletter and your thoughts on it. This will help us shape future editions. Take the survey

21st Nov 2011: Latest newsletter now available

View a PDF of issue 16 of The Insurance Charities newsletter.

14th October 2011: Insurance Institute of Dublin Charities Lunch

The Insurance Institute of Dublin’s Charities Annual Lunch is taking place on Friday 14th October 2011 in the Four Seasons Hotel. Read the Advert

September 2011: Graham Cave is our new president

We are delighted to announce that Graham Cave has been made President of The Insurance Charities for the forthcoming year. Read the press release here.

Insurance Institute of Leeds
Charity Balloon Race

On a nice sunny July afternoon with a slight breeze the Insurance Institute of Leeds released the balloons for the Charity Balloon Race in aid of Insurance Charities and Holy Trinity Church, Ossett, Make it Hot Appeal to raise funds for under floor heating at Holy Trinity Church.

By kind permission of the PCC we were able to release the balloons from the church tower at the base of the spire which is approximately 126 ft from ground level. Our first challenge of the day was to take up the release net, three helium gas canisters and the balloons up a spiral stone staircase consisting of 72 steps to reach the bell ringing chamber, a further 21 steps to reach the clock tower then a 36 rung ladder to reach the bell chamber finishing with a 29 rung ladder to reach the base of the spire and the outside parapet.

We filled 140 balloons placing them into the balloon release net at the base of the spire which was inside. Unfortunately what was a gentle breeze at ground floor level, 126ft up it became a whirlwind! As we put the net out from the spire base to the parapet walk way to release the balloons the fine netting snagged both on the spire wall and the parapet corner pillars and as we released it from its snagging, the wind then caught the net spiraling it round and preventing the release of the balloons, at one stage we were fairly certain that we were going up with the balloons, net and all!!

However we are pleased to report that we did finally manage to release all the balloons and we were delighted when they started being returned.

At total of 16 balloons were finally returned to us having covered varying distances the shortest one being 53.9 miles. We were extremely surprised but delighted when a week before the final date for return of the balloons we had balloon 123 returned from Berck Sur Mer in Northern France a total mileage according to Google maps of 345 miles, crossing the Channel and our congratulations to Karen Ferguson of Drighlington near Bradford who purchased the winning balloon and who receives the first prize of £100.

Our thanks to all who purchased balloons in the race both members of the Insurance Institutes of Leeds, Bradford and Halifax and the congregation of Holy Trinity Church in Ossett.
Our thanks also to the sponsors of the event Cryer Baker Recruitment and Robertshaw Technical Insurance Services, Risk Management and for the help and assistance of the Young Peoples Group of Holy Trinity Church who helped launch the balloons on the day. Nicole Eichenholc of France receives the £15 finders prize for the returning the balloon to us.

We are pleased to report that the event raised £126 each for Insurance Charities and Holy Trinity Church Make It Hot Appeal and are delighted that the Insurance Institute of Leeds was able to work with a local charity as well as Insurance Charities to the mutual benefit of both organisations.

We are looking forward already to holding next year’s event.

Stuart Robertshaw, Charities Team Leader
Insurance Institute of Leeds

Insurance Institute of Leeds Charity Balloon RaceInsurance Institute of Leeds Charity Balloon Race

Insurance Institute of Leeds Charity Balloon RaceInsurance Institute of Leeds Charity Balloon Race

 

Big Balloon Day: UPDATE

New Date: Tuesday 2nd August 2011

We are pleased to announce our new date for the tethered balloon ride, generously sponsored by Allianz, to benefit The Insurance Charities. As you will recall, the ride is dependent on the weather and we had to postpone the original date due to extreme weather predictions.

If you previously made a booking it remains valid on Tuesday 2nd August, please arrive 10 minutes before your departure time and remember to bring with you your original email receipt confirming your reservation. We hope you can make this date, if not please let us know as soon as possible. If you would like to book a ride please contact the office to check availability.

We look forward to seeing you at Finsbury Square on Tuesday 2nd August. Find out more

 

Winter 2011 Newsletter now available

View a PDF of issue 14 of The Insurance Charities newsletter.

Everest Basecamp Challenge - November 2010

Read the full report of this challenge from John Evans on our Fundraising Reports page.

Stratford upon Avon Insurance Institute Receives Recognition For Fundraising

The Stratford upon Avon Insurance Institute has been awarded The Insurance Charities Centenary Charity Shield for 2010, in recognition of its contribution to fundraising and publicity on behalf of the charity.

Stratford upon Avon Insurance Institute Receives Recognition For FundraisingThe award was presented to David Oram, the Stratford Institute’s Charities Representative, by the President of The Insurance Charities, Kirsten Watson, at the institute’s lunch-time lecture on Monday 29 November.

The Insurance Charities, the charity for the UK’s insurance industry, gives vital financial and practical support to past and present employees of the insurance industry and their dependent relatives, who are suffering financial hardship. Last year they gave out over £1 million to almost 550 beneficiaries who had nowhere else to turn.

David said he was delighted to receive the award on behalf of the Stratford Institute and was grateful to all those who had generously contributed over the years. In these times of economic difficulty, it is vital the message of what The Insurance Charities can deliver is known to all who might benefit from the help it can offer.

 

Beneficiaries run to say thank you

Gary and Debbie Pitman train hard in preparation for the New York Marathon on the 7th November. The Pitmans are nearing their final preparations before flying off to the US and fundraising for us by running the New York marathon. Read this letter from them to hear about their challenge.

Update: The Pitmans completed the marathon, as shown in these photos.

Gary and Debbie Pitman Gary and Debbie Pitman

New Deputy President for The Insurance Charities

The Charity is delighted to announce that Graham Cave has been elected as Deputy President for the forthcoming year. Read the press release here.