Benefact Group and Ecclesiastical Insurance invest more than £90,000 to support education and skills causes

As part of the Movement for Good Awards Benefact Group and Ecclesiastical Insurance have donated £90,000 to eight charities working in the education and skills sector.

The eight charities which include Breaking Barriers, Read Easy UK, Black Swimming Association, and Happy Space have each been awarded amounts ranging from £10,000 – £50,000.

From running a network of volunteers who teach adults to read, through to helping refugees acquire skills and enter stable employment – the grants will fund essential projects and initiatives that will benefit many thousands of people across the UK.

The awards are designed to help charities make a real difference in their communities. More than 500 charities applied for the funding with the winning projects being selected against four criteria: impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion.

Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “At Benefact Group we believe business should be a force for good. More than ever, charitable causes need sustained support and a sense of financial stability. Through our Movement for Good larger-grant awards, we are championing a more imaginative way of supporting charities so that they can have some certainty in these challenging times. We know our funding can be a lifeline to those who are struggling with cost-of-living increases and a grant of this scale can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do. 

“Benefact Group is the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK and has an ambition to be the biggest. Owned by a charity, all our available profits go to good causes, and the more the Group grows, the more the Group can give. As a company whose purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, charitable giving is at the heart of what we do.”

Matt Powell, CEO and Founder of Breaking Barriers, said: “We are beyond thrilled to receive this award from Benefact Group’s Movement for Good. This is a critical time for refugee communities, and the grant will make a huge difference to our Futures Programme, which is tailored towards young refugees. Thank you so much for believing in our work – from myself, my colleagues, our volunteers and of course our refugee clients themselves.” 

Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.