Lloyd’s last night recognised the work and outstanding achievements of the market’s volunteers who have freely given their time to help those in neighbouring communities.
Over 200 people from the Lloyd’s market and neighbouring communities attended the 20th anniversary celebration at One Lime Street yesterday.
The event celebrated the work of the Lloyd’s Community Programme (LCP) and its volunteers, highlighting recent schemes such as the children’s Olympic Games at Mile End in June, and a festival of song.
Welcoming guests, Lloyd’s chief executive officer, Richard Ward, highlighted the ‘outstanding achievements’ of the LCP, which organises volunteer schemes in some of London’s most deprived boroughs.
“Just a three minute walk east of the Lloyd’s building are some of London’s poorest communities,” he said.
“We as members of the business community need to engage with this issue and this is what the Lloyd’s Community Programme is all about—enabling people from across the Lloyd’s market to share their time to take part in volunteering initiatives that focus on improving the opportunities and environment for those people living and working in our local community in East London,” he continued.
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Richard Ward, Lloyd's CEO
Prince of Wales’ address
In a video address HRH The Prince of Wales, who launched the LCP at Lloyd’s in 1989, said that problems in these communities continue to exist. “They need help now as much as they ever did.”
Too many children leave school with too few qualifications, and too many people under the age of 25 are still without work, he said.
“They lack self confidence and self worth, and feel as if they belong nowhere and to no one. You help them fulfil useful lives in their communities,” the Prince of Wales said.
“The LCP is a well established initiative and its support is even more widespread than ever. I wish you all the best in such a worthy endeavour and express my warmest congratulations for your commitment that has touched thousands of people in these communities.”
Aiding the market to give back
LCP chairman, Nick Furlonge, said that over its 20 years, the LCP had stuck to its roots by helping people in the market put something back into local communities.
The LCP, which organises volunteers from the market to help children in local schools with their reading and numeracy skills, has also expanded its work in recent years.
One new project was the LCP’s Singfest, part of the Culture for Kids initiative, where children from seven primary schools in Tower Hamlets performed their own musical at the Museum of London.
Attendees at the celebration event were treated to a taster when some 30 children aged around 10-years old performed songs that they had written as part of Singfest.
Children from local primary schools took part
This year the LCP also organised a special Mile End Olympics in East London as part of its Sporting Chances scheme. The event saw 80 volunteers from the Lloyd’s market join 500 children for a terrific fun day out, Mr Furlonge said.
Also as part of its anniversary theme, the LCP chairman announced the launch of twenty £1,000 bursaries for schools and community groups that participate in LCP schemes.
Celebrating volunteers, calling for more help
The LCP has 813 volunteers, and is on track to reach its goal of recruiting 1,000 this year volunteers as part its 20th anniversary celebrations, Mr Furlonge said. He urged everyone attending Thursday’s event to introduce one volunteer to the LCP to help reach the target.
Recognising the ‘exceptional dedication’ of LCP volunteers and community workers, Lloyd’s chief executive Richard Ward presented awards to nine scheme participants for ‘going that extra mile.’
Gill Nichols, learning and development manager at Liberty Syndicates and the LCP’s longest serving volunteer, told attendees that both volunteers and students benefit from the LCP’s work.
“I feel that it is not just about reading, but communicating with your student as well—you read a little and you chat a little with your student—we learn about their lives and they learn about our lives and at the same time we are helping them improve their reading skills.”
Volunteer Award Winners
Facilitator
- Pamela Girdwood (Blue Gate Fields Junior School)
- Mike Coysh (Bethnal Green Technology College)
- Carol Rider (Christchurch C.E. Primary School)
Volunteer
- Kirat Nandra (ACE) Supporting Bethnal Green Technology College
- Kerry Moore (AON) Supporting Downsview School
- Eva Bocci (Lloyd's) Supporting Oaklands School
Coordinator
- Jo Moody (Clyde & Co) Supporting Our Lady & St Joseph RC Primary School
- Bina Arora (Miller) Supporting Sir John Cass Primary School
- Laureen Wright (A J Gallagher) Supporting Harry Gosling Primary School
