# Pennies from Heaven 2016 introduce new Platinum Award

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/03/30/pennies-heaven-2016-introduce-new-platinum-award/
- Published: 2016-03-30T09:47:02+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The [Pennies from Heaven](https://www.penniesfromheaven.co.uk/) 2016 Awards have
taken place with a new category for employers with over 40% staff participation.**

The Platinum Award is now the highest level of the awards, which celebrate charitable
giving in the workplace. One in six of this year’s awards were Platinum, given to
B. Braun Medical Ltd, Liverpool Womens’ NHS Foundation Trust, LV=, Motor Insurers’
Bureau, The Bank of England (staff), and VocaLink Limited.

This year’s Pennies from Heaven Chairman’s Award went to Borough of Poole, for demonstrating
the difference an opt-out approach can make to take-up of the Pennies from Heaven
scheme. With agreement from Unions they launched an opt-out approach for new staff
in January 2014. Overall participation has since risen from 3% to 11% and continues
to increase month by month. Also within the NHS, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation
Trust received a Platinum Award while South West Ambulance Service NHS Trust gained
a Gold Award with its 20% take up.

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2015 saw Barclays Bank also raised its £1millionth penny, and a number of new employers
and charities join the scheme, including L and G, Public Health Wales, Médecins 
sans Frontieres, Youth Cancer Trust, the Prince’s Trust and The British Paralympics
Association.

Platinum award winner B. Braun’s HR manager Lisa Burns said:

> “We are delighted that we have been awarded one of the first Platinum awards having
> held the Gold award for three years running. For B. Braun to be publicly recognised
> in this way as an employer with employees who, year on year, have demonstrated
> commitment and generosity to local charities is an achievement which makes us 
> very proud.”

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 * **[Studies call for new approach to grantmaking](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/06/15/studies-call-new-approach-grantmaking/)**(
   15 June 2016)

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