Charity &
community
Going beyond for our communities and charities
We’re all about actively supporting our local communities and championing partner charities. It's a real core part of who we are, with lots of activity focused on going beyond to fundraise, volunteer, and just get involved. Whether it's trekking through the hills of Cambodia, running a half marathon, supporting our raffles, baking cakes for bake sales, or cycling from London to Paris – there's something for everyone to get stuck into.
CALM
After a hugely successful first 12 months of a two year partnership with CALM in 2023, we made the exciting decision to extend our partnership with them to three years. CALM are bold and innovative in their quest to unite everyone in the UK against suicide, and we hope to raise both awareness and lifesaving funds to help finance their incredible helpline and suicide prevention services. Alongside our fundraising efforts, we’ll also volunteer our time to help spread CALM's message of hope, and break the taboo that stops people talking about their mental health and money worries.
Financial hardship is a key risk factor in suicidal ideation. By combining our expertise in saving money with CALM’s expertise in saving lives, this partnership has never been more needed.
“With the cost-of-living crisis having a huge impact on the nation's wellbeing, our partnership with MONY Group will be crucial in raising vital funds and awareness, allowing us to continue to be there for anyone who is struggling and reach more people in our fight against suicide.’’ Simon Gunning, CEO, CALM
Right now, this three-year partnership has an ambitious fundraising target of £225,000 - enough to fund over 18,440 lifesaving calls on CALM’s helpline - and with a goal to help spread CALM’s message to as many people as possible, this partnership is saving lives.
How it's going
Donations to date £163,942 with more to come
We've run a multitude of fundraisers across the year, from a golf tournament with commercial partners, a charity concert, and a weightlifting challenge, to some smaller initiatives such as a staff pancake flipping competition, clothes swaps and bake sales. Some of our colleagues also signed up to run the London Landmark, Oxford and Conwy Half Marathons, and 38 colleagues took part in a trek across Cambodia, raising over £61,000.
Outside of fundraising, CALM have run four CALM Champion Workshops, educating MONY Group colleagues more about their services and also on how they can support the people in their lives, myth busting stats around suicide, learning how to be expert signposters and how to be active listeners and why it’s so important to look after themselves.
Find out more about CALM at www.thecalmzone.net
Community Support
Launched in 2008, our Community ERG focuses on supporting smaller charities and community groups, local to our offices. In the past 12 months alone we’ve made £25,000 available for the community initiative, with funding channelled through the Charities Aid Foundation to allow us to make gross donations to registered charities.
All our colleagues can nominate a charity close to their hearts, and donations are allocated to good causes by our Community employee resource group. They've helped fund food banks, homeless shelters, family refuges as well as books for schools, sports equipment for local sports clubs and supporting other Community Groups. We’ve also recently helped Liverpool hospital distribute stab kits into the local community in an effort to reduce fatalities from knife crime, and supported the Molly Rose Foundation, which is focused on the prevention of suicide in young people under the age of 25.
Every colleague here has the opportunity to join the Community team or any other one of our ERGs – and help make a difference to the community around them.
The MSE Charity
The MSE Charity was set up by Martin Lewis OBE, founder of Money Saving Expert, in 2008. It's dedicated to improving information and education about debt, money, and consumer issues in the UK.
They give grants of up to £7,500 to non-profit grassroot organisations across the UK, that deliver activities which will make a lasting impact on how people think, behave and manage their money.
For more information, check out www.msecharity.com
