AXA UK is donating £1m to Business in the Community (BITC) as part of its response to the coronavirus epidemic and support for the charity’s recently formed National Business Response Network.
The donation marks the start of a partnership between the insurer and Business in the Community, with AXA joining Business in the Community’s Board of Trustees and becoming a founding partner of The National Business Response Network.
Organised as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, the National Business Response Network connects national and local community groups, businesses, local authorities and charities with businesses who can offer support. This ensures resources are delivered to the right place, at the right time.
The network focuses its activity on four key areas helping communities navigate their way through the coronavirus pandemic:
- Food: ensuring people have continued access to food
- Technology: support to enable children to continue learning, and older people to stay connected to families
- Community support: support to vulnerable groups and older people to enable continued access to food, healthcare, social interaction and other essentials
- Small businesses: creating resources with advice and practical tools specifically for small businesses; providing business continuity and wellbeing support through mentoring for small businesses
Claudio Gienal, chief executive officer, AXA UK & Ireland, said: “During this crisis, it is vital that our communities receive much needed support from businesses that have the capacity to help.
“The National Business Response Network utilises the resources and expertise of companies across the UK to support communities and businesses up and down the country.
“AXA is proud to play its part as a founding partner of the network; offering our support not just during this pandemic, but for the future as well.”
Amanda Mackenzie OBE, chief executive of Business in the Community, said : “Put simply, this support will save lives and provide a springboard to help our communities bounce back and recover as fast as possible."
