Lloyd’s teams up with schoolchildren to tell its story

Lloyd’s, the world’s leading specialist insurance market, has gone back to school to produce a new book that looks at the insurance world through the eyes of children.

The new book “How the World REALLY Works: Insurance at Lloyd’s of London” has been created with the help of children from Christchurch Primary School in Tower Hamlets. The class of eight and nine-year-olds worked with Lloyd’s and the Guy Fox History Project to produce a book that explains the complex workings of insurance in a format kids can understand.

Lloyd’s Chief Executive Dr Richard Ward was at the book launch and said:

“This is a fantastic book about the world of insurance and, although it’s written by children for children, I suspect many adults will learn something too! Lloyd’s is very proud to be involved with the book and with a Community Programme that offers practical help to young people from primary school to school leavers to help them develop the skills needed for the world of work.”

Given the complexities of the Lloyd’s market, making the book was no mean feat. Lloyd’s Community Programme volunteers from the Corporation and market visited the school to explain how it works by recreating the old coffee house and re-enacting how the market was started.

Eight-year old Niha Rafiah Niha from Christchurch School worked on the book and said:

“The Guy Fox History Project and Lloyd’s of London volunteers taught us lots for our book. We got to visit the Lloyd’s building and we now know what underwriters do, how Lloyd’s began and how insurance works. We’d like to thank everyone who helped us with our book; we learnt so much and are really proud of it.”

This is the second book in a series produced by Guy Fox History Project, following their collaboration with UBS to write about investment banking. Guy Fox creates innovative activities and publications that encourage children to explore the world around them.

Kourtney Harper, Creative Director of Guy Fox, said.

“Lloyd’s has such an interesting history and culture of innovation, which matched perfectly with the ethos of the ’How the World REALLY Works’ project. Volunteers from across the Lloyd’s market have supported the project every step along the way, and they have made a real impact on the children who participated. The book is a testament to the commitment and enthusiasm of everyone who was involved,”

The children were also taken on a tour of the Lloyd’s building where they met Richard Ward in the Underwriting Room on his way back from the coffee shop. (This lasting impression has meant that Richard can be identified throughout the illustrations with a coffee cup in his hand!).

The book will be distributed to London schools, libraries and community centres.

Notes to editors

Lloyd’s Community Programme helps to raise aspirations of children in East London and offers practical help to young people from primary school to school leavers to help them develop the skills needed for the world of work. It gives people working at Lloyd’s and in the Lloyd’s market the opportunity to ‘put something back’ into the community on their doorstep through volunteering.

Lloyd’s Community Programme is always looking for new volunteers. If you work in the Lloyd’s market and want to get involved please contact communityaffairs@lloyds.com