- Insurer commits £1 million to Business in the Community’s new initiative, The National Business Response Network, set up to meet urgent community needs arising from the coronavirus pandemic
- The network focuses its activity on helping communities navigate their way through the coronavirus pandemic by matching them with businesses who can offer support
- The donation marks the start of the partnership, with AXA joining Business in the Community’s Board of Trustees
AXA UK is donating £1 million to Business in the Community (BITC) as part of its response to the coronavirus epidemic and support for the charity’s recently formed National Business Response Network.
The donation marks the start of the partnership between the insurer and Business in the Community, a charity and The Prince’s Responsible Business Network, with AXA joining Business in the Community’s Board of Trustees and becoming a founding partner of The National Business Response Network
Organised as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, the National Business Response Network connects national and local community groups, businesses, local authorities and charities with businesses who can offer support; ensuring resources are delivered to the right place, at the right time.
Over the coming months, AXA will also be providing help in the form of volunteering (both on the ground or virtual). The partnership will allow colleagues from across the country to contribute, using their skills and time to support local communities.
The network focuses its activity on four key areas helping communities navigate their way through the coronavirus pandemic:
- Food: Ensuring people have continued access to food
- Technology: Support to enable children to continue learning, and older people to stay connected to families
- Community support: Support to vulnerable groups and older people to enable continued access to food, healthcare, social interaction and other essentials
- Small businesses: Creating resources with advice and practical tools specifically for small businesses; providing business continuity and wellbeing support through mentoring for small businesses
The network is supported by over 300 business leaders, committed and ready to take action by mobilising their thousands of employees, supply chains and partners in their local community.
The business resources the National Business Resource Network matches to community needs are:
- Professional support: Using the resources and goodwill of member companies to provide support for national and local businesses throughout the UK
- Lending/donating resources: Lending or donating resources to organisations and people to meet need
- Logistics: Transportation of resources, goods and services
Community organisations in need of help and businesses wanting to offer their support can visit the National Business Response Network online board of needs and offers.