World Horse Welfare awarded the largest share of £52,000 charity jackpot

Taking home a cheque for £12,000, World Horse Welfare was the biggest winner at this year’s SEIB Insurance Brokers charity awards

The fifth annual SEIB Insurance Brokers Awards took place at Eton College Dorney Lake, Berkshire on 6 July, proceedings beginning in earnest with SEIB Giving – an initiative that saw £52,000 awarded to worthy causes. The SEIB Charity Awards have strict entry criteria – only small and medium charities are eligible. Any money granted by SEIB can be used as the charity sees fit and to cover running costs.

A cheque for £12,000 and a commemorative plaque were presented to Roly Owers for the highest-placed charity, World Horse Welfare. A sum of £11,000 went to The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund as the highest-placed small charity, for which charity trustee, David O’Donnell came up on stage to receive the cheque and plaque.

Ten other charities reached the final voting stage of the SEIB Charity Awards and received a portion of a £29,000 from SEIB including £7,000 to the Mare and Foal Sanctuary, £6,000 to Animal Free Research UK and £5,000 to Barrow Farm Riding for the Disabled Association. The final vote for the top 12 charities was limited to clients of SEIB.

Suzy Middleton said: “I’m so very proud that at SEIB, with the support of our owners, Benefact Group, we are in a position for our profits to go to good causes. It’s so emotive to watch the short films that the finalist charities submit for our awards each year detailing the work they do. To be able to support and make even a small difference to the lives of those that these charities help is heart-warming.”

The public nominated their favourite charities in the first stage of the decision-making process before SEIB clients went on to have the final vote for the winners of a share of the £52,000. The Charities Trust provided SEIB with their help to carry out due diligence to ensure that each of the finalists met all criteria of the grant and are above board.

The other finalist charities were…

• Hope Rescue, a registered charity that saves stray and abandoned dogs in South Wales
• SeeSaw, who provide support for children, young people and their families when they’ve been bereaved or when somebody close to them is terminally ill
• The Maggie Oliver Foundation, whose aim is to empower those affected by childhood sexual abuse and exploitation to live fulfilled and successful lives
• Ruils Independent Living, a charity that supports disabled children, adults and the elderly to live independent lives
• Been There, a charity in the form of an app that connects people with a vetted and trained mentor to help with any body image issues they may be experiencing
• The Oli Hilsdon Foundation funds brain tumour research in memory of Oli Hilsdon, who lost his battle with Glioblastoma Multiforme just 10 days before his 27th birthday
• The Candlelighters Trust, a charity established in 1976 that supports families facing children’s cancer in Yorkshire

For more information about SEIB Giving, visit seib.co.uk/about-us/seib-giving/