Cheshire residents are encouraged to support the movement by nominating a local charity

Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical is giving away another £1million to charities with the return of its Movement for Good Awards. In 2019, more than 3,200 kind-hearted Cheshire residents voted for over 100 charities across the region.

Last year saw an amazing 98,000 people around the UK support the Movement for Good awards in total, with over 7,000 charitable causes up and down the country receiving votes. The 500 winning charities were picked at random from those nominated.

This year 500 more charities will each receive £1,000 during the first phase of the campaign, which launches today. A second phase of giving will happen later this summer.

This is an extremely challenging time for charities, and many are struggling with the unprecedented impact of coronavirus. Members of the public are once again being encouraged to nominate a cause close to their hearts for a potential £1,000 award to help make a difference.

Autism Inclusive and Forever Angels UK in Crewe, Beechwood Cancer Care Centre and Chelwood Foodbank Plus in Stockport and East Cheshire Hospice in Macclesfield were among the local beneficiaries in 2019, following overwhelming public support in the county.

A representative from Forever Angels UK stated: "We wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who nominated us last year for a Movement for Good award of £1,000. This award allowed us to provide life-saving milk to vulnerable orphan babies in Tanzania - the support was simply life-saving. Thank you so much!"

The nomination process is open until 24 May. Winners will be drawn at random and the more times a charity is nominated the more chance it has of being selected.

It’s quick and easy to nominate, you can vote for your favourite charity online at: www.movementforgood.com

Mark Hews, Group CEO of Ecclesiastical, says: “We’re delighted to announce the launch of Ecclesiastical’s Movement for Good awards for the second year running. The coronavirus is having a major impact on charities and many are facing financial difficulties. Our Movement for Good awards will continue to help charities at a time when they need it most and we know that for many charities, £1,000 can make a real difference.

We were thrilled to receive so many nominations from the public last year and this year we are encouraging even more people to nominate a good cause. Ecclesiastical 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.”

About the Movement for Good awards

1. Ecclesiastical’s £1million giving programme, the Movement for Good awards, will help charities change lives for the better. Phase one will see 500 charities receive £1,000 while the other £500,000 will be given away later in the year  
2. The £1,000 awards launch on 6 May and is open to all UK-registered charities. From 6 May to 24 May anyone can nominate a registered charity for the chance to receive one of 500 £1,000 awards. The winners will be announced between 1 June and 12 June. For more information visit

www.movementforgood.com

About Ecclesiastical

1. Owned by a registered charity, Allchurches Trust, Ecclesiastical is a unique financial services organisation. With its main operations and headquarters in the UK, Ecclesiastical also operates in Australia, Canada and Ireland.
2. Ecclesiastical is a specialist insurer of the faith, heritage, fine art, charities, education and private client sectors.
3. The Ecclesiastical Group also includes award-winning investment management business, EdenTree Investment Management, which provides a range of ethically screened investment funds.
4. Ecclesiastical is one of the UK’s top five corporate donors to charity in the 2017-18 UK Guide to Company Giving. We have been named Insurance Company of the Year at the Better Society Awards two years running (2016 and 2017) and we are an eleven-time winner of Fairer Finance’s most trusted home insurance provider. 
5. After donating £50m to charity in three years, Ecclesiastical launched a bold vision in 2016 to raise £100m for good causes by the end of 2020. In March 2020, the Group announced it had already raised £96million towards its target.
6. Many businesses say they are different. Ecclesiastical really is. Find out why here www.ecclesiastical.com/ourstory