Devon charity wins £40,000 Movement for Good award

A charity based in Plymouth will receive a £40,000 windfall as part of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group’s annual Movement for Good awards.

After receiving a £10,000 award last year, First Light South West is one of five1 charities chosen by a panel of judges that will benefit from the larger grants.

The additional £40,000 will enable First Light South West, which supports adults and children recovering from domestic abuse and sexual violence, to establish an Educate & Prevent Training venture. The funding will take First Light’s knowledge, skills and expertise out to sector professionals, further education settings, and into communities across the South West. Over the next two years, the charity will work with, educate and train 94 people, who will reach and support over 4,200 individuals and families impacted by domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Mark Hews, Group CEO of Ecclesiastical, said: “At Ecclesiastical we believe business should be a force for good. Charitable causes need sustained support and a sense of financial stability. We received so many strong funding applications from deserving charities we decided to give five fantastic causes £40,000 each. We know that these additional grants can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do and we’re looking forward to seeing how these donations will change lives for the better.

“Ecclesiastical, the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK, 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.”

Lyn Gooding, Chief Executive of First Light South West, said: “This award follows the fantastic success of the domestic abuse volunteer mentoring scheme Ecclesiastical help set up in Cornwall during 2021. Their support in 2022, marks a new step for First Light by setting up an Educate & Prevent Training venture. With Ecclesiastical’s donation, we will educate our communities around healthy relationships and sexual consent to start to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence in the first instance. Funding will also help to improve the response and the quality of support available to those disclosing domestic abuse and sexual violence.”

For further information on the Movement for Good awards please visit: www.ecclesiastical.com/movement-for-good