Zurich Community Trust - our story
Zurich Community Trust (ZCT) began life as the Hambro Life Charitable Trust on 31 December 1973 which makes us one of the longest-established corporate trusts in the UK.
Over the span of 50 years we’re proud to have worked in a spirit of collaboration with a huge range of charities, of all shapes and sizes, across the UK and overseas.
Our founding members had a collective passion and desire to give back to their local community and help improve the lives of those in need. Members and supporters of ZCT may well have changed over the years, however, our level of passion and commitment remains the same.
We’ve certainly seen a lot of change in the voluntary sector in this time which has influenced what our partners really want in terms of funding and volunteering. It means that today we listen even more closely to what our community partners are saying, to ensure the support we offer really does go where most needed.
Through the decades
1971
Hambro Life arrives in Swindon.
1973
Hambro Life Charitable Trust launched.
1975
The Staff Charity Fund was created and 400 employees in Swindon raised £300.
The very first grant of £1,000 was given to the Prospect Hospice appeal to fund initial nursing hours.
1985
Inaugural grant funding of £500,000 awarded to set up ‘Action on Disability and Development’.
1987
£1.7 million 5 year programme launched to transform services for people living with Schizophrenia.
1990
We launched our first ever Team Challenge programme with 43 projects involving 500 local staff in Swindon.
£1.5 million money advice programme launched.
1994
We launched a 7 year £2 million programme helping to tackle domestic violence.
We launched the India Programme offering support through a combination of funding and volunteering assignments.
1995
We invested £2 million in a new dementia programme.
1999
Our grant giving reaches £30 Million.
2000
Launch of ‘Zurich Cares’ and Zurich offices unite for Challenge.
2004
Breaking the Cycle programme launched.
2006
Young people’s mental health programme launched and, in partnership with Age UK, we launch Call in Time.
2011
Our grant giving reaches £60 Million.
2016
Generation Gains programme launched.
2017
We partnered with Volunteering Matters to offer employees the opportunity to mentor a young disabled person and help develop their skills.
2018
The India programme finished. Over its 24 years we supported 12 NGOs with grants totalling £1,720,400 and 105 Zurich employees shared their skills.
2020
As part of our Covid-19 commitment, we donated £2 Million to support various initiatives, partners and programmes.
Through funding by Z Zurich Foundation, we awarded £200,000 to GoodGym, offering employees both wellbeing and volunteering opportunities.
2021
ZCT's Youth First programme launched in partnership with education charity, Teach First.
£250,000 awarded to new partners, the Superhero Series. Offering employees the opportunity to volunteer or participate in their events.
2023
We celebrate our golden anniversary and supporting our communities for 50 years!