NCH and Norwich Union in £1.4 million five-year partnership

Howard Lake | 12 June 2003 | News

The new Norwich Union Fund will give young people who use children’s charity NCH’s services the chance to apply for a grant to help develop skills and participate in opportunities which will help them reach their potential.

The two organisations commissioned research into children’s attitudes and concerns which found that many of them are very worried about their future. While young people are more responsible they don’t always have
the skills to cope and are becoming increasingly worried about ‘not having a
job’ (34%, according to the survey of 455 13-19 year olds in April 2003) and ‘getting into debt’ (17.3%).

David Czerwinski of Norwich Union, the UK’s largest insurer, said: “because teenagers have to deal with much more at a younger age, the need for support from friends and family is crucial. Three quarters of respondents in our study say they turn to parents first for advice. But
this support is often missing for the more vulnerable teenagers who may not have family and friends to turn to which is why we are supporting NCH in the work they do with disadvantaged young people.”

The three main areas of activity in the joint programme are:

• The Norwich Union Fund – NCH users can apply for a grant to help develop skills and participate in opportunities which will help them maximise their potential
• supply materials to help train the project workers and funding for one-to-ones in which young people aided by NCH project workers tackle difficult issues and provide support in the choices they make about their
  lives.

• staff volunteering – types of project work might include DIY support, help with transport or admin, running workshops and giving marketing advice.

About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale. He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.