HRH Prince of Wales congratulates Lloyd’s Community Programme on its 20th Anniversary

Lloyd’s Community Programme marked its 20th anniversary last night with a celebratory event at the famous Lloyd’s building.

Over 250 people attended the event hosted by Nick Furlonge, Chairman of Lloyd’s Community Programme and Director of Beazley. A special message from HRH Prince of Wales kicked off the evening as he praised the work of Lloyd’s Community Programme, the venture he officially launched in 1989:

“I am delighted to note you have survived the last two decades and continued to do such sterling work. Many of the issues which prompted you to start on this endeavour so many years ago still exist for too many of today’s young people. They need our help now more than ever.

“I want to congratulate you for your commitment to an initiative which has touched the lives of not just hundreds, but thousands of young people and local residents over the years.”

Globe Primary School, a school in Tower Hamlets that Lloyd’s Community Programme has worked with, provided some entertainment as the students performed original songs about life in London that they had written. Small businesses set up by East London Small Businesses Centre, the first organisation supported by Lloyd’s Community Programme, were also there selling or showcasing their products.

The event gave the opportunity to recognise the work of many of the Lloyd’s Community Programme volunteers with awards for Best Volunteer, Best Volunteer Facilitator and Best Volunteer Co-ordinator presented to people nominated by their peers. They each received £250 to go to the school they work with.

Richard Ward, Chief Executive of Lloyd’s said:

“I am delighted we have so many volunteers from our Market that go and help in the community. Lloyd’s Community Programme has gone from strength to strength and I think the target of 1000 volunteers for this year is absolutely achievable.”

Notes to Editors

* Winners of the Best Volunteer Award: Kirat Nandra (ACE – supporting Bethnal Green Technology College), Kerry Moore (AON – supporting Downsview School), Eva Bocci (Lloyd’s – supporting Oaklands School).

* Winners of the Best Volunteer Facilitator Award: Pamela Girdwood (Blue Gate Fields Junior School), Mike Cosh (Bethnal Green Technology College), Carol Rider (Christchurch C.E. Primary School).

* Winners of the Best Volunteer Co-ordinator Award: Jo Moody (Clyde & Co – supporting Our Lady & St Joseph RC Primary School), Bina Arora (Miller – supporting Sir John Cass Primary School), Laureen Wright (A J Gallagher – supporting Harry Gosling Primary School).

* Lloyd’s Community Programme has hosted numerous events in celebration of its 20 years. A Games Day was held in June for over 500 students from Tower Hamlets schools as well as a Cricket Cup and Football Cup. Twenty local students who have completed their A-Levels are being placed in 20 organisations for 6-13 weeks as summer interns with placements in financial services, business administration, legal and IT. Twenty £1000 bursaries can be applied for to go to schools and community programmes that volunteers work with.

* Lloyd’s Community Programme 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. It is run by a management board of senior representatives from companies in the market and supported by the Community Affairs team at Lloyd’s and involves over 60 companies in the Lloyd’s market.