Supporting our communities
As the UK’s leading rural insurer, we’re in a unique position to understand the issues affecting our members and their communities. We care about their health and wellbeing, and work hard to protect their livelihoods.
During 2024, we are pledging £3.25m of funding for local and national charities across the UK.
Find out about some our initiatives that support our communities:
Agency Giving Fund
The Agency Giving Fund is a national fund to support local charities and was first set up in 2020 in response to the pandemic – to provide emergency support and assist with recovery.
To ensure funding is distributed across the UK, and to where it matters most, NFU Mutual invites all local agency and branch offices to nominate local charities. Their local knowledge directs the funding to where it matters most.
The Agency Giving Fund supports a wide range of charities, from providing food parcels, to supporting local hospices and mental health support groups. We’re proud that the Fund is championing services that play a vital role for our members and their communities.
Find out more about the Agency Giving Fund
NFU Mutual Charitable Trust
Established in 1998, the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust promotes and supports national and regional charitable causes in agriculture and rural development in the UK.
Since it was founded, the Trust has distributed donations totalling more than £8.6m and made a positive difference to education, research, social welfare and poverty relief.
Find out more about the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust
Community Champions Scheme
The Community Champions Scheme was a newly launched scheme in 2022 to support staff fundraising activities and causes close to key office sites, including Stratford upon Avon and our regional service centres across the UK. £30,000 was distributed through this funding during 2023.
One of the initiatives to have been supported through the scheme is a partnership with national environmental charity, The Tree Council, to support their nature and conservation work in UK neighbourhoods. In July 2022, we were proud to announce that NFU Mutual had joined forces with The Tree Council, as a Jubilee Partner for The Queen’s Green Canopy.
The Community Champions Scheme also supports staff fundraising events. From bake sales and sponsored runs to quiz nights and cycle rides, we want to support our employees as they look to make a difference in their communities.
NFU Mutual Centenary Award
Photography: Phil Morley
We first launched the annual NFU Mutual Centenary Award in 2010 to celebrate our 100th year. It aims to support innovation and research in UK agriculture whilst also championing passionate individuals who demonstrate potential to make an impact in the industry. The annual award is funded by the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust and provides bursaries of up to 75% of course fees for selected postgraduate students in agriculture.
Find out more about the Centenary Award
Farm Safety Foundation
As a Mutual insurer that has cared about the countryside, farmers and their families for over a century, NFU Mutual took the decision in 2014 to establish the Farm Safety Foundation, an independent registered charity to help farmers work safely (Registered Charity No. 1159000).
The Farm Safety Foundation (or Yellow Wellies as many know them) works throughout the UK to preserve and protect both the physical and mental wellbeing of those living and working in the industry.
NFU Mutual’s funding has allowed the charity to develop and deliver farm safety and mental health training across the UK. The charity has also created and funded two annual awareness campaigns – Farm Safety Week and Mind Your Head, and continues to work closely with partners and stakeholders nationally and internationally. Raising awareness of farm safety and poor mental health is a key objective, in order to drive a reduction in the number of injuries and fatalities that continue to give agriculture the poorest record of any occupation in the UK.
Find out more about the Farm Safety Foundation
Employee Volunteering
We understand that charities and organisations working to provide valuable support to our communities often need a helping hand. That’s why, in addition to financial donations, we’re proud to support causes across the UK through the fantastic efforts of our people. During 2023, NFU Mutual staff dedicated more than 4,100 of their work hours to support community causes through our employee volunteering programme. Our employees gave their time to help a wide range of causes, such as local foodbanks, hospices, schools and community forests.
We hold strong relationships with charities and local groups UK-wide and we are always exploring new opportunities for our employees to give support and get involved.
Case study: our volunteering in action
Find out more about our employee volunteering programme
Find out more
Supporting our communities is just one of the ways we deliver against our amibition of Protecting Rural Lives and Livelihoods. To learn more about our strategy and actions, explore our latest Responsible Business Report.
