ABI Partners with The National Emergencies Trust
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has joined forces with the National Emergencies Trust (NET) to strengthen disaster response and community resilience in the UK. This strategic partnership, which sees the ABI become an Appeal Partner, aims to leverage the insurance sector's extensive network to increase awareness and donations for NET appeals.
The collaboration was kick-started with the establishment of the Covid-19 Support Fund by the ABI in May 2020. The aim was to raise £100 million to help those hardest hit by the Covid-19 crisis. As of now, £84 million has already been pledged, with £82.5 million already donated.
The Covid-19 Support Fund supports various initiatives, including the improvement of financial literacy among healthcare workers, carers, service personnel, and hospitality workers. It has also donated £652,000 to the FT's Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign (FLIC).
On the other hand, the NET offers a single platform for donations during national emergencies. During localized disasters not meeting its appeal threshold, the Trust provides rapid fundraising and distribution support to local organizations. Funds raised by the Trust are distributed to survivors, their loved ones, and charities for financial, mental health, bereavement, and physical rehabilitation support.
The ABI, as an Appeal Partner, disseminates fundraising details among its members and broader industry contacts. This mobilizes financial resources and support rapidly in times of local or national crises.
Yvonne Braun, ABI Executive Lead, expressed pride in the industry's commitment to helping communities recover and rebuild. Mhairi Sharp, CEO of the National Emergencies Trust, expressed excitement about the ABI's influence and connections joining the Trust's Appeal Partner Programme.
This partnership underscores the importance of cross-sector collaborations in strengthening disaster response and community resilience. It aligns with broader resilience frameworks that emphasize cooperation among public, private, and voluntary sectors to improve preparedness and recovery outcomes.
The NET and ABI also collaborate with survivors, policymakers, industry, and other charities on projects that enhance the UK's resilience. Despite the Covid-19 Support Fund not being a part of the ABI's partnership with the National Emergencies Trust, this collaboration has proven to be a significant step towards building a more resilient UK.
The ABI's partnership with the National Emergencies Trust (NET) extends beyond disaster response, also encompassing initiatives in general-news areas such as financial literacy. For instance, the Covid-19 Support Fund, an initiative of the ABI, has provided funding for improving financial literacy among various groups, including healthcare workers and hospitality workers.
In times of local or national crises, the ABI, acting as an Appeal Partner for the NET, mobilizes financial resources and support swiftly by disseminating fundraising details among its members and broader industry contacts, thereby strengthening the finance and business sectors' role in community resilience.
