Briefing: The Insurance Charity – heard of it?

They call it the industry’s best kept secret. Perhaps, that’s because people only tend to know about The Insurance Charity if they are part of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), or you or someone you know has experienced adversity that has needed its services. 

Personally, I was made aware of the charity after a colleague was unable to work following a cancer diagnosis. Up until that point, I was unaware of the amazing work it does.

Having asked around, it is true that the charity’s work flies under the radar, with many individuals unaware of its existence.

The largest donations each year come from the CII and insurers. The CII and its local institutes appoint a charity representative that promotes awareness and handles fundraising for the charity, while insurance companies, with Aviva leading the way, having donated an average of over £100,000 in the past three years.

Are we doing enough?

The UK insurance industry contributes over £30bn to the UK economy, but donations in the past year to The Insurance Charity in the 2024 /25 impact report shows the charity received £189,000 in donations for that period.

Based on these figures, the sector is donating a woeful 0.00063% of its revenue.

Aviva have been a consistent donor to The Insurance Charity, based on the last three year’s reports.

They prove that large insurers can and do step up. Imagine the difference it would make if more of our industry’s biggest names joined them. The potential for collective impact is enormous – and the opportunity is there for the taking

There is a responsibility as an employer to protect the workforce. Artificial Intelligence (AI) might be making wavesand impacting how we operate, but our employees remain our most valuable asset.

And since the large insurers naturally have larger workforces, it is inevitable that these employees might need to draw on the charity’s services in the future, whether for physical or mental health.

This is not a purely altruistic move either. Supporting the individuals who contribute to our industry will likely mean goodwill from employees, less turnover of staff and may even attract more talent to those employers who give back.

While we all have our part to play, I would argue that insurers should carry more of a responsibility.

You only need to have your eyes and ears open around the industry to notice some big money flying around – whether it’s hospitality in a Premier League box, a conference abroad or the kick back of commissions for over-rider deals.

This is not a case of a bit of charity-washing. If insurers were to allocate a portion of their marketing budget to the charity, or hold one less event, collectively this would be a sizable contribution.

I believe it would have a snowball effect, with insurers leading by example and encouraging smaller firms to participate, creating a culture of mutual support across the industry.

Who does it support?

With roots dating back to 1902 when The Insurance Clerks Orphanage was established to support widows and orphans, the charity has evolved.

In 2025, it had a glow up – the rules around who could access the charity changed and it removed the length of service requirement for those seeking support, so it could reach a greater number of people.

While the charity will support you regardless of your need, the stand out reasons for needing support appear to be due to medical conditions and domestic violence.

In 2024/25, for example, the charity awarded £1,300,000, with the latest impact report summarising its support:

• Active Beneficiaries: 363 (including couples and families)
• Cases of Financial Support: 196
• Medical Conditions: 66% of active cases had medical conditions
• Domestic Abuse: 15% of active cases involved domestic abuse situations
• Total Financial Support Awarded: £1.3 million.

In my opinion, the numbers seem surprisingly low given the insurance industry employs a workforce of over 300,000. Yet, in the past 12 months, the charity has been called upon to support 363 cases.

While we will all have specific charities that we hold close to our hearts that do incredible work, I ask that, when you are next doing some fundraising and looking to support a charity, give a thought to The Insurance Charity.

It does not support just one cause, but supports each one of us that contributes to this wonderful industry.