Tuesday 07 January 2025 - BELONG

Helping those facing isolation at Christmas

Being a Good Company and supporting the communities we work in are key parts of our purpose at Tokio Marine HCC International (TMHCCI).

Many of us will have spent the holidays with friends and family but for others, the festive period can also be a time of loneliness. That’s why this year, we decided to focus our Christmas charity initiatives and volunteering opportunities on addressing social isolation and loneliness.

Charity

In France, the team raised money for Les Restos du Coeur, a charity that works to create greater social inclusion for the underprivileged and fights food poverty. By providing access to meals and initiatives aimed at social and economic integration, the charity ensures that vulnerable individuals feel seen, supported, and less isolated.

The London Market team took part in the ELBA Toy Appeal. Each Christmas, this charity organises gifts to be bought, donated, sorted, and delivered to children and young people in East London, Islington, and beyond. Over £100,000 worth of gifts are donated each year.

Our Bridgend office also collected toys for the Mr X Toy Appeal, which distributes presents to more than 5,000 disadvantaged children across South Wales every year. This not only spreads festive cheer but also helps combat feelings of exclusion that children in disadvantaged situations may face when they feel unable to participate in the celebrations others enjoy.

In Leicester, funds were raised for Love4Life’s Big Give campaign, which provides wellbeing support to 150 disadvantaged girls during the build-up to Christmas. By offering a safe space for these girls to connect, share experiences, and receive care, the campaign plays a crucial role in tackling loneliness during a potentially difficult time.

Christmas Jumper Day

In Germany, the team participated in Christmas Jumper Day to raise funds for Herzschlag der Hoffnung (Heartbeats of Hope). This charity works hard to help the homeless in Frankfurt and Offenbach by providing day centres where people can get a hot meal and find a moment of comfort. These centres provide essential physical sustenance and a place where people can connect, reducing the isolation many feel during the holiday season.

In the UK, we also used Christmas Jumper Day to raise funds for our charity partner, Dementia UK, which provides crucial support to families dealing with dementia. This support is especially important during the holidays, a time that can highlight feelings of isolation for those living with dementia and their caregivers.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a key part of our charity programme and Christmas is the perfect time to give back to others. It provides an opportunity to offer warmth, companionship, and support to individuals who may be struggling with loneliness or hardship.

Our charity partner, Hestia, helps adults and children live a life beyond crisis. Teams from the London offices helped to decorate their domestic abuse refuges and bring some festive cheer into the homes. Our volunteers also put on a Christmas party for those who rely on the charity’s Housing Support and Inclusion Service (HSIS) which provides short-term housing support for people across Hammersmith and Fulham.

Elsewhere, our Procurement team volunteered with Step Forward, helping them decorate their space for a Christmas party held for their young LGBTQ+ group. With hate crimes based on sexual orientation up by 112% in the last five years, Step Forward is a crucial charity for the Tower Hamlets area, providing free and confidential services to young people aged 11-25, with a range of needs.

The UK Marketing team volunteered with the East London Pensioners Group which provides vital community links for vulnerable pensioners in and around the Tower Hamlets area. The team put on a tea party for the pensioners, providing a warm, welcoming environment where the group can meet new faces and build meaningful connections.

The Dusseldorf team also supported an elderly care home’s Christmas market by baking tasty treats, serving mulled wine and children’s punch, and selling homemade gifts to the 100 residents.

Over with the HR team, they were making Christmas care packages to be given to vulnerable residents on the Teesdale and Hollybush estate near Bethnal Green. The team decorated hampers, wrapped presents and helped create the right festive atmosphere for Santa to hand out the gifts.

Giving back to our communities is an important part of who we are and thanks to the generosity of time and spirit of so many at TMHCCI, at least some of those people will have managed to secure just a little bit of the Christmas cheer that so many of us take for granted.

We hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

Contact details

Ashley Rice
Ashley Rice

CSR Manager