Prudential in the community

We take our position within the community very seriously and realise that we have a responsibility and a role to play.

Our focus is on making a difference to retirement in our local communities and we are committed to making improvements in the communities where we work.

Our employees that get involved in the community programme have the opportunity to develop their leadership, communication and team building skills whilst also giving something back to the community.

The key areas of our community programme are:

Employee volunteering and personal development

Our employees get involved in their local communities through Prudential initiatives, local charities and community groups. For example, a team spending a day transforming a community group's outside space develops teamwork and gives something back.

Through our Employee Volunteering Awards (EVA), teams and individuals who have shown outstanding volunteering and exceptional fundraising receive £1,000 for their charity or community group. Beneficiaries have included Cancer Research UK, the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust and Lynn's Bowel Cancer Campaign. Since launching these awards we have three times as many volunteers.

Making a difference to retirement

In May 2009 over 100 Prudential employees volunteered to take part in "A Call in time" programme run by Help the Aged to befriend older people over the phone. Research has shown that older people really value the calls and that they have a positive impact on an older person's physical and mental health, including reducing depression and delaying their admission to a care home. Volunteers have spoken about how the programme can build their interpersonal skills as well as their appreciation of some of the issues that older people face.

Education

Our volunteering programme includes mentoring, reading and business awareness programmes with local schools. We have worked with the Specialist School and Academies Trust (SSAT) since 2004 to develop 'Adding up to a Lifetime'. This is an interactive resource to help teach financial capability to young people aged 13 to16. This supports the aims of the UK government's 'Every Child Matters' agenda and the new secondary curriculum.

Giving to charity

We encourage charitable giving by making it easy and tax-efficient for employees to donate direct from their pay to any charitable organisation in the UK. We will match these donations under agreed terms and conditions. Ten percent of our employees currently donate. Donations in 2008 totalled over £160,000.

If you would like more information on our community programme please send an email to community@prudential.co.uk.