Mental Health Awareness Week is upon us, and, with surveys suggesting we’re feeling more isolated than ever due to the coronavirus pandemic, rural insurer NFU Mutual has taken steps to offer its support to some charitable causes.
The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust is giving £739,000 to several national organisations that reach out to the vulnerable and lonely.
“We understand how isolation is affecting people and families and that our members need these services now more than ever. The emotional and practical support offered by these charities will be vital for all our communities at this challenging time,” said Lindsay Sinclair, group chief executive of NFU Mutual.
“Our members have told us that loneliness, the strain of juggling home and work, financial pressures, lack of broadband and access to general amenities, is impacting every inch of their lives and leading to feelings of heightened anxiety and fear.”
The charities set to benefit from this first round of donations are:
Overall, the insurer is planning a £32 million support package committed to its members and local communities impacted by the virus. Additional donations will be given out over the coming months and it is believed that, by the end of the year, the total should reach around £1 million.
“As a result of COVID-19, we know that there are extra demands on charities, which is why we want to help them take care of the ‘now,’ as well as the future financial health of their organisation,” added Sinclair.
“Some of these funds will enable charities to ‘stay open’ so they can continue to deliver their much-needed services. Other donations will be used to support frontline assistance such as telephone and email helplines and advice and signposting, helping our communities to stay strong and resilient, from the Highlands and islands to towns and remote villages.”
