Bupa unlocks £250,000 for charity
Health provider Bupa has raised a quarter of a million for its partners Trees for Cities and UNICEF.
The donation has been made possible thanks to Bupa’s #1MillionMinutes campaign launched in May, which raised £200,000 for Trees for Cities to support its Planting Healthy Air for Schools initiative, and £50,000 for UNICEF to go towards the ongoing humanitarian response in Ukraine.
In its 75th year, as part of its extensive sustainability programme of charitable initiatives, the healthcare provider challenged its employees across the UK to collectively log 1 million minutes doing something for their health, community or the planet. Everything from litter picking and volunteering in food banks helped Bupa reach the target of unlocking £250,000 for two great causes.
Anna Russell, Director of the Bupa Foundation, commented: “At Bupa, we’re passionate about supporting local charities that help vulnerable people in their communities, as part of our purpose of helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. Thanks to Bupa employees who logged 1 million minutes by taking part in more than 6,000 activities during May, we’re delighted to be supporting two fantastic charities that make a difference to those who need it.”
The donation made to environmental charity Trees for Cities will fund healthier playgrounds at four primary schools in London, Staines, Bradford and Salford. The project will involve improving the schools’ air quality by redesigning areas of their playgrounds using green infrastructure and tree planting techniques to screen airborne pollution. These new outdoor areas will allow the schools to encourage their pupils to connect with nature, improve their physical and mental health, and develop self-reliance leading to more sustainable behaviours in the long term.
Rory Field, Corporate Partnerships Director at Trees for Cities, added: “As a charity, we fundamentally rely on the support of other brands and businesses to bring initiatives like Planting Healthy Air for Schools to some of the most deprived communities across the UK. Thanks to everyone at Bupa who took part in #1MillionMinutes, we’ve secured funding to design playground areas that will help mitigate the effects of poor air quality and connect primary school pupils to nature, thereby enriching their education.”
The remaining £50,000 will go towards UNICEF’s emergency response for the children and families of Ukraine in the face of escalating conflict in the country, placing millions of children and their families in immediate danger.
Frank Lawley, Head of Business Development – Corporate Partnerships at UNICEF, said: “UNICEF, together with partners, is at the forefront of the humanitarian response in Ukraine. Thanks to the support of companies like Bupa, our teams can continue to work around the clock to deliver urgent support to children and families.”