Past Programmes
Our Strategic Funding programmes focus on the more challenging social issues today and support the most vulnerable people in our society.
It means we’ve not been afraid to tackle the loneliness experienced by too many older people through A Call in Time or address the impact of parental substance misuse on the family through Breaking the Cycle. It's why - through the Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition - we're helping to effect change and beat the drum for early intervention for children and young people struggling with their mental health.
Our most recent programme, Generation Gains, uses chair-based exercises, circuits, walking football and other activities to bring together isolated older people (or at risk of becoming so) and young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). While, in 2018, we concluded our India programme which, after 24 years, was our longest-running programme, combining capacity building with the sharing of business skills with NGOs in southern India through assignees.
You can find out all about our Strategic Funding programmes below. And take a look too at our past programmes here.
Our Strategic Funding programmes are wholly funded by the annual donation made to ZCT by the Zurich UK business. We only accept applications for this body of work from those organisations who have been invited to apply.
A special butterfly
There are no short cuts. Meaningful transformation takes time so our Strategic Funding programmes are typically longer-term and run for many years.
Working closely with our Strategic partners, we focus on innovation and often trial different approaches through pilot projects before landing on a practical solution which truly extends the charity's reach and which is replicable and sustainable.
Like a butterfly, we're part of the process of change. But our commitment to addressing key social issues, and our staying power, means we never just flit from charity flower to flower!
Generation Gains
Our first intergenerational programme, Generation Gains brings young and old together for mutual benefit; helping the young become work ready and addressing loneliness in older people.
A Call in Time
The simplest action can transform a life! A Call in Time is a telephone befriending scheme using employee volunteers to make regular calls to isolated older people. These calls really are a lifeline.
CYPMHC
The Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition (CYPMHC) unites a range of organisations to campaign for better mental health provision for children and young people.
India programme
After 24 years, in 2018 we said 'goodbye' to our pioneering India programme, which developed the capacity building of NGOs through both funding and skills transfer by Zurich employees.
Breaking the Cycle
Working in partnership with Addaction, through 'Breaking the Cycle' we've helped to transform the lives of children with parents who misuse drugs and/or alcohol.
Programmes from the past
Our past programmes have all shaped our approach as a funder. They may now be over but they still play a valuable part in our thinking today. Let's turn back time and take a look!