Our charity partners

Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) is dedicated to supporting our partner charities, Independent Age and Rethink Mental Illness, and to help raise the funds that really make a difference to the critical work that they do.

Our aim is to have long-term partnerships, which allow both parties to make the most of the relationship.

PIC's purpose revolves around making sure that later life is secure, and this dovetails with Independent Age's purpose of supporting older people. At the same time, by focussing on our purpose, PIC's investment strategy has socially beneficial outcomes, including those that benefit younger, and future generations. This fits well with Rethink’s purpose, which means they provide support across generations.

With the pandemic and the lockdown placing unprecedented strain on the charitable sector, we have been delighted to be able to support both charities, through active volunteering by our employees, and also through charitable support.

Along with financial support, PIC is also supporting Independent Age's Telephone Befriending Service by providing regular phone calls with older people and facilitating Coffee Morning Group discussions on various topics for larger groups of older people.

The charities are also helping raise awareness of their work with our employees, including holding educational events both online and, as and when COVID-19 restrictions allow, in our offices.

We also run a variety of fundraising efforts for our partner charities, including taking part in challenges, (individual) marathons and events. PIC has also hosted a City of London-wide Treasure Hunt for our corporate friends and partners, with all money raised being donated to our chosen charities. Unfortunately this wasn't held in 2020 due to the pandemic restrictions, so we ran a virtual fundraising challenge during July, where staff raised money in creative ways, such as virtual marathons and yoga lessons.

All employees can also take two days a year paid leave to work on volunteering projects of their choosing.

Finally, in 2020 PIC made significant donations to each of its partner charities, along with a contribution to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) Coronavirus Support Fund.

Please do contact either Independent Age or Rethink Mental Illness if you would like to support them in any way – they would be delighted to hear from you.

OUR CHARITY PARTNERS

 

Independent Age UK

Independent Age is a charity founded over 150 years ago offering advice and support for people in old age. They operate throughout the UK and provide advice and support across a range of areas including money, housing, health, personal life, support and care and future planning. The charity has expert advisers on hand to give clear and helpful advice to older people and their families, as well as award-winning written advice both online and in printed formats. In 2019, Independent Age provided support to more than one and a half million older people and their families.

Independent Age offers free guides and factsheets that are full of information to help older people boost their income, find the care they need, remain independent, choose the right place to live, stay connected with others, and more. For more information about guides and factsheets, visit https://www.independentage.org/get-advice/advice-guides-factsheets-leaflets.

If you or a family member are facing challenges, need advice on social care or welfare, you can arrange to speak to an Independent Age adviser for free and confidential information and advice by calling them on 0800 319 6789 or emailing them at advice@independentage.org

Like many organisations, COVID-19 has challenged Independent Age and the people they support, but Independent Age has risen to this challenge. They have created a Covid-19 hub which holds all the up to date, and relevant people might need. They have partnered with GriefChat to support people impacted by bereavement and grief, and they have also had to adapt their services to continue to meet the needs of older people. There are usually lots of volunteering opportunities with Independent Age, but the current restrictions are making this difficult. If you are interested in volunteering, then do keep checking the volunteering pages on their website.

Case study

Rhonda has been volunteering with Independent Age and calling Ann once a week during the COVID-19 lockdown. Rhonda said:

“I very much enjoy chatting with Ann, an intelligent, curious lady, and we talk about all sorts of things from health to nature, to poets – to everything! Every week takes us somewhere different, that's the nice surprise.”

Ann said:

"We are having little quiz's by phone and Rhonda has really engaged well with me.

I love hearing about Australia and the calls have been a very welcome distraction from the madness of the world."

On behalf of the charity, thank you so much for your time and enthusiasm. It means the world to us and our older people. Thanks to the dedication and time of people like Rhonda and financial contribution from companies like PIC we can fight loneliness, and make a real difference to individuals like Ann. Working with you is so amazing!

Monika Czechowska Independent Age UK - Corporate Partnerships Manager

 

 

Rethink Mental Illness

Rethink Mental Illness is a charity with close to 50 years' experience of supporting people severely affected by mental illness. Tens of thousands of people rely on their support every year to help them get through crises, live independently and realise they are not alone. The Rethink Advice and Information Service offers practical information and support about any aspect of mental health and has produced a whole range of factsheets, which are downloadable for free at www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/

When people encounter mental illness themselves or amongst family and friends, there are so many questions. It can be a lonely experience too, making life even harder. At Rethink Mental Illness, our Advice and Information service is available for the thousands of people that need it, ready to provide up to date information across a whole range of issues. This has been particularly important recently, as we’ve had 3 million people access our website looking for support with anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. We're so grateful to everyone at PIC who raise funds to help more people to access to our services, which can be a lifeline for people severely affected by mental illness.

Katie Legg Director of Partnerships, Rethink Mental Illness