History

The Foundation was started in 1981 to support disadvantaged people in the UK and overseas and to help them move from dependence to independence. (It was formerly known as the Allied Dunbar Foundation and then the Zurich Advice Network Foundation.)

In June 2005 it became the Openwork Foundation. It is funded and supported by the staff and self-employed financial advisers of Openwork across the UK.

What do we do?

The Openwork Foundation is both a fundraising and grant-giving fund. The staff and financial advisers of Openwork actively fundraise in their own time and then put forward projects and charities they’d like to support. Fundraising initiatives include a whole variety of events as well as opportunities for advisers and staff to support the Foundation by donating money, or by accessing Moneymakers.

Our impact

Since 1981, the Foundation has supported over 650 projects in the UK and abroad and has donated over £15.4 million to the community. Over the past 24 years the Foundation has provided vital support for many people and causes. Amongst other things, we have helped charities to build adventure playgrounds for disabled children; to purchase medical and mobility equipment for people of all ages, to build hydrotherapy pools and conversions in children’s hospices and to purchase specially adapted minibuses.

The Openwork Foundation also works in partnership with three national children’s charities: Weston Spirit, the Association of Children’s Hospices and Winston's Wish.

Our current theme or focus is Cares 4 Kids where we have pledged to support disadvantaged children in the UK and overseas.

Charity details

The Openwork Foundation comes under the umbrella of the Zurich Community Trust (UK) Limited which is the registered charity. The Trust absorbs all the running costs of the Openwork Foundation, so all money raised by staff and advisers goes directly to charity. The Openwork Foundation is run and managed by a Foundation Committee, made up from members of the Openwork sales force and staff.