Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards is giving away £120,000 as part of its annual 12 Days of Giving Christmas campaign
For 12 days in the lead up to Christmas the specialist financial services group is giving £1,000 to ten charities each day – with 120 charities in total benefitting from a festive financial boost.
Nominations are now open and Scotland residents are being encouraged to nominate a cause they care about to give them a chance of receiving a share of the award money.
Draws will take place every weekday between 1st – 18th December and nominating is easy using the online form at www.movementforgood.com. Winners are drawn at random and the more times a charity is nominated the more chance it has of being selected.
Last year more than 17,700 people from across Scotland nominated good causes to receive an award, resulting in 12 charities landing donations.
Emma Razi, Head of Fundraising, at SCOTLAND: The Big Picture who benefitted from £1,000 last year, said: “We were thrilled to receive £1,000 via the 12 Days of Giving campaign. This supported our work to make more rewilding happen across Scotland – benefiting nature, climate and people.”
Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “We’re delighted to be giving away another £120,000 in valuable donations to causes around the country. We know that charities across the country are struggling, and for many the festive season is a critical time. We’re asking residents to take a few minutes of their time to nominate a cause they especially care about.
“Benefact Group is the third largest corporate donor in the UK and has an ambition to be the biggest. Owned by a charity, all of its available profits go to good causes, and the more the Group grows, the more the Group can give. We know that £1,000 can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do and we’re looking forward to seeing how this financial boost will change lives for the better.”
Benefact Group has donated over £200million to charitable causes since 2014 and has been recognised as the third biggest corporate giver in the UK[1]. The organisation aims to reach £250million in donations by 2025.
Earlier this year, 300 £1,000 awards were donated followed by £480,000 of larger grants in October.
Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.
Research from the Movement for Good Awards has found that 40% of people are more likely to depend on help from a charity than ever before
While 37% say they are likely to reduce or stop the amount they donate due to the current climate
34% of residents are choosing to volunteer their time rather than help financially
Of those still intending to give, 66% want to support local charities now more than ever
Charities will be under increased strain this winter as a new poll of 67,000 people shows two in five UK residents are more likely to depend on charities during the cost-of living crisis.
Over a third of residents in Scotland (40%) that took part in the research (5,057) have admitted they are more likely than ever before to have to call on help from a charity. While in contrast 37% said they are likely to reduce the amount they donate to charity due to the increasing costs they’re facing on their energy bills.
While people may be planning to give less money, 34% of residents have said they’re more likely to volunteer their time instead. Two thirds (66%) are more likely to support a local charity rather than a national or international one with 53% of residents choosing frontline charities supporting those most in need due to the cost-of-living crisis.
The findings come as the UK’s largest network of food banks, The Trussell Trust, announced it had distributed a record number of food parcels between April and September this year, with one in five individuals referred to The Trussell Trust now coming from working households.
With charities facing increased pressure, Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards is giving away £120,000 as part of its annual 12 Days of Giving Christmas campaign.
Residents are encouraged to nominate a charity online at
The first draw takes place on December 1st and the last on December 16th with 10 charities drawn every day. Nominations are open until Thursday 15th December.
Winners are drawn at random and the more times a charity is nominated the more chance it has of being selected.
Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “It’s perhaps no surprise that people intend to cut back on their charitable giving at this time, and it is clear is that charities need help more than ever.
“Our annual £1 million Movement for Good Awards have helped thousands of charities across the UK and we’re asking people to take a few minutes of their time to nominate a cause they especially care about.
“Out of some five million companies in the UK, Benefact Group is the fourth largest corporate donor* and has an ambition to be the biggest. As a Group of financial service businesses, uniquely owned by a charity, all available profits go to good causes, and the more our loyal customers support us to grow, 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 and, together, we can help many good causes to continue their love and support for those who need it most in these difficult times.”
This year in June, 250 £1,000 awards were donated. A further 250 £1,000 awards were awarded in September followed by £500,000 of larger grants in October.
A special draw was recently launched to coincide with COP27, giving five environmental charities £5,000 each – a further £25,000 in funding.
Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.
The Edinburgh Remakery has been granted £10,000 as part of the Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards.
The latest phase of the Movement for Good Awards will see more than £500,000 in funding be awarded to 31 charities working across the climate change and environment, education and skills, heritage and arts and rural and community sectors.
The Scottish based charity is an award-winning environmental social enterprise committed to creating a culture of sustainable, waste-free living and protecting the planet for future generations.
The £10,000 funding will go towards the charity’s Tech Exchange for Community Hubs project, which will gift up to 200 refurbished electronic devices to 10 Community Hubs, giving their beneficiaries essential access to digital support and services and replacing old devices with newer, higher quality, refurbished ones.
The awards are designed to help charities make a real difference in their communities and beyond. 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.”
Elaine Brown, CEO of The Edinburgh Remakery Ltd, said: “The Edinburgh Remakery social enterprise is committed to supporting people in our communities whilst creating positive change for our planet.
“We reduce waste by taking in old electronics to be refurbished and reused, we reduce carbon emissions by providing affordable and eco-friendly alternatives to buying new, and we support our communities by providing people in need with gifted tech devices and valuable life skills to improve employability, confidence and wellbeing.
“Thanks to the Movement for Good funding, we are able to further our mission and help even more people whilst reducing waste and helping our planet at the same time.”
Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.
The Edinburgh Remakery has been granted £10,000 as part of the Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards.
The latest phase of the Movement for Good Awards will see more than £500,000 in funding be awarded to 31 charities working across the climate change and environment, education and skills, heritage and arts and rural and community sectors.
The Scottish based charity is an award-winning environmental social enterprise committed to creating a culture of sustainable, waste-free living and protecting the planet for future generations.
The £10,000 funding will go towards the charity’s Tech Exchange for Community Hubs project, which will gift up to 200 refurbished electronic devices to 10 Community Hubs, giving their beneficiaries essential access to digital support and services and replacing old devices with newer, higher quality, refurbished ones.
The awards are designed to help charities make a real difference in their communities and beyond. 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.”
Elaine Brown, CEO of The Edinburgh Remakery Ltd, said: “The Edinburgh Remakery social enterprise is committed to supporting people in our communities whilst creating positive change for our planet.
“We reduce waste by taking in old electronics to be refurbished and reused, we reduce carbon emissions by providing affordable and eco-friendly alternatives to buying new, and we support our communities by providing people in need with gifted tech devices and valuable life skills to improve employability, confidence and wellbeing.
“Thanks to the Movement for Good funding, we are able to further our mission and help even more people whilst reducing waste and helping our planet at the same time.”
Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.
Join us on Saturday 29th October at the Edinburgh Remakery where a collection of 10 designers share their antidote to fast fashion with one collective vision in an exciting live fashion show.
We’ll also be raising money for the Edinburgh Remakery to reintroduce their free drop-in Sewing Repair Sessions – open for anyone to join who wants help to mend, alter or reimagine their clothing or textile items.
We want to make repair skills and services accessible to everyone in Edinburgh, which is why we want to keep these sessions free; to help people learn new valuable skills, gain confidence, and meet other like-minded individuals in our community.
23 charities based in Scotland have received donations of £1,000 each as part of the Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards.
For the fourth year running, the Benefact Group is giving away £1million to charities through its Movement for Good awards. Members of the public were invited to nominate causes close to their hearts, with another 250 awards of £1,000 available now for donation.
Euan’s Guide, A Bear Named Buttony and Doodle Trust are some of the local charities set to benefit from the money, following overwhelming public support in the country. More than 18,500 kind-hearted residents have voted for charities across the country so far.
In total, more than 202,000 people around the UK supported the Movement for Good awards, with over 3,900 charitable causes up and down the country receiving votes. The 250 winning charities were picked at random from those nominated, following 250 previous winners being selected in June.
It’s quick and easy to nominate, you can vote for your favourite charity online at: www.movementforgood.com
Thanking supporters in Scotland, Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “We would like to thank every single person who took the time to nominate a good cause as part of our Movement for Good Awards.
“Benefact Group is the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK and has an ambition to be the biggest. Owned by a charity, all of its 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. We know that £1,000 can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do and we’re looking forward to seeing how this financial boost will change lives for the better.”
A further 120 £1,000 grants will be given away in December and £500,000 will also be given in larger grants later this year.
Thousands of tulips line the Vennel Steps in the heart of Edinburgh’s old town thanking the public for supporting charitable causes.
For the fourth year running, Benefact Group is giving away over £1million to charities with the return of its Movement for Good Awards.
To mark the occasion, thousands of brightly coloured tulips have appeared in the city centre. The garden of gratitude features 1,500 bunches of flowers representing a ‘thank you’ on behalf of the 1,500 charities that have already benefited from the awards to the members of the public who voted for them.
From today, people are once again invited to nominate a cause close to their hearts for a potential £1,000 award to help make a difference.
This year, another 500 charities around the UK will each receive £1,000 during the campaign.
It’s quick and easy to nominate, you can vote for your favourite charity online at: www.movementforgood.com
Each of the 4,500 wooden tulips have been individually hand-made in the UK, featuring hand-written thank you notes.
Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, says: “We’re delighted to announce the launch of Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards for the fourth year running.
“We hope that our Garden of Gratitude reminds people that their nominations really do make a difference. Thanking those who have chosen good causes they love, as well as celebrating the 1,500 charity beneficiaries over the last three years is, we think, a fitting way to start this year’s awards.
“Benefact Group, formerly named Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, is the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK and is keen to give even more. Owned by a charity, all of its 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.”
Since the initiative began in 2019, more than 210,000 people across the UK have nominated causes they care about, leading to more than 13,000 charities receiving votes.
Anyone can nominate a registered charity at any time for the chance to receive £1,000. The first 250 winners will be announced in June, a further 250 winners will be announced in September.
Winners will be drawn at random and the more times a charity is nominated the more chance it has of being selected.
A further 120 £1,000 grants will be given away in December and £500,000 will also be given in larger grants later this year. For more information about the awards visit www.movementforgood.com
Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.
Four charities based in Scotland have shared a £40,000 windfall as part of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group’s annual Movement for Good awards.
Cutting Edge Theatre Ltd, Peebles CAN, Towards Transition Stirling SCIO and Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland are four of 30 charities chosen by a panel of judges that will benefit from the money.
The fund will allow Cutting Edge Theatre Ltd, which aims to make a difference to those who are marginalised by using creativity, to kick-start its new project, Inspire Young Company – an initiative which will increase the confidence, self-esteem and communication of young people with a learning disability through theatre training and performance.
Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland will be using the donation to identify victims of human trafficking, to ensure they are recovered safely and enable them to get the specialist support they need.
Each of the £10,000 awards are designed to help charities make a real difference in their communities. Applications were assessed against four key areas; impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion.
Mark Hews, Group CEO of Ecclesiastical, said: “At Ecclesiastical we believe business should be a force for good. Charitable causes need sustained support and a sense of financial stability.
“Through the second phase of our Movement for Good awards we are actively championing innovation, giving charities the backing they need to propel their plans forward and turn creative ideas into practical solutions that benefit society.
“We know that £10,000 can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do and we’re looking forward to seeing how this financial boost will change lives for the better.”
“Ecclesiastical, the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK, is a unique financial services group. We are owned by a charity which means all available profits can be given to the good causes that are so important to our customers. As a company whose purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, charitable giving is at the heart of our business.”
Suzanne Lofthus, Artistic Director at Cutting Edge Theatre Ltd, said: “We believe that every person has potential and we work with those who often feel more marginalised to realise this.
“Nothing gives us greater pleasure than seeing someone discover their talents and abilities. Winning this donation will make a huge difference to the lives of 20 young learning disabled artists, giving them a taste of working professionally in the performing arts. It will open up opportunities for them to be artists in their own right, bringing a much needed and desired diversity to our industry.”
Elyse Kirkham, Senior Philanthropy Officer at Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland, said: “At Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland we work tirelessly to ensure the identification, safe recovery and long-term wellbeing of survivors of human trafficking in Scotland.
“We support survivors to rebuild their lives, minimising their risk of re-trafficking, strengthening their independence skills and ability to integrate into the community. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of funders like Ecclesiastical and their Movement for Good awards. Together we can make a difference!”
For the third year running, the awards, set up by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical, will see a total of £1million go to charities across the UK.
An amazing 210,000 people around the UK supported the Movement for Good awards during its first phase earlier this year, with over 13,000 charitable causes up and down the country receiving votes. The 500 winning charities were picked at random from those nominated and were awarded £1,000 each.
Phase two saw over 1,000 project submissions for the £10,000 awards. Following a review of all the applications, a panel of judges made their final selection of the 30 winning projects. The remaining money will be awarded at a later date.
Shared Lives Plus, which is launching its Homeshare scheme in Scotland, is one of ten charities to receive £50,000 as part of Ecclesiastical Insurance’s Movement for Good awards.
The awards, set up by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical, have seen a total of £1million given to charities across the UK this summer. 500 charities have already been awarded donations of £1,000 and now 10 charitable organisations will benefit from £50,000 grants.
Shared Lives Plus, which aims to build communities where everyone lives a full life by sharing lives and homes, was one of 10 charities1 selected from over 1,000 entries.
The fund will allow the charity to develop its Homeshare scheme in Scotland, a project that carefully matches someone in need of support to live independently with someone who has a housing need and can provide care. The project fosters mutually beneficial and enriching relationships across communities.
Each of the £50,000 awards are designed to support the advancement of education, skills, arts, culture and heritage, as well as citizenship or community development. Applications were assessed against four key areas; impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion.
Mark Hews, Group CEO of Ecclesiastical, said: “Our Movement for Good awards have been met with an overwhelming response. A huge number of charities have submitted projects for the £50,000 grant and it’s clear that charitable organisations are in need of support now more than ever.
“We believe this financial boost will create long-lasting improvements for communities and support charity workers during what is an incredibly testing time for many.
“Ecclesiastical is a unique financial services group. Owned by a charity, our core purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society. Charitable giving is at the heart of our business and we are proud to be able to give all available profits to the good causes which are important to our customers.
“We know that £50,000 can make a huge difference to the life-changing work that charities do and we are looking forward to seeing how these awards will help make people’s lives better.”
Ben Hall, Development Manager at Shared Lives Plus, added: “I didn’t expect to win at all and when we were told, I was delighted! For us, this project would not be taking place in the coming year without the award from Ecclesiastical’s Movement for Good. It really is as simple as that.
“Homeshare will be a new idea in Scotland and it is vital that we raise its profile. Our goal is that we want to bring shared living to more people and create a kinder and stronger society. This grant allows us to create those plans.”
An amazing 253,879 people around the UK supported the Movement for Good awards during its first phase earlier this year, with over 13,695 charitable causes up and down the country receiving votes. The 500 winning charities were picked at random from those nominated.
Phase two saw 1,059 project submissions for the £50,000 awards. Following a review of all the applications, a panel of judges made their final selection of the winning projects2.
For almost a year now, People Know How has been working in partnership with Polwarth Parish Church towards our shared dream of acquiring a canal boat on the Union Canal and using it as a shared community space to enhance our Positive Transitions Service. If you have been lucky enough to be part of our summer pilot, you will understand why we are so excited about this new service.
I am thrilled to report that we have taken a big step towards making that dream a reality – but we really need your help!
We have been shortlisted by Ecclesiastical Insurance to receive a grant of £50,000 as part of the 2019 MOVEMENT FOR GOOD Awards.
This grant would allow us to acquire a canal boat and recruit a member of staff to develop the All Aboard project on a full-time basis, cementing our partnerships with Polwarth Church and extending the reach of our services.
We are one of 15 projects to have been selected from hundreds of applications, and over the next 2 weeks, our friends, colleagues, and partners will have the opportunity to show their support for our project by visiting the Movement for Good website and voting for us – https://www.ecclesiastical.com/movement-for-good/50k-shortlist/people-know-how/
Please show your support and help us to secure the funding to make 2020 our biggest and best year yet!
Please also share our request with as many of contacts as you possibly can. The more support we can drum up for our application, the greater the chance that the judging panel will be persuaded to make an award in our favour.
We are also running a campaign on social media – please retweet, follow, share, etc.
