Published: 14 June 2022
Benefact Trust and Benefact Group have celebrated a major giving milestone at Westminster Abbey, sharing the achievement with hundreds of grateful beneficiaries.
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales attended the Service of Thanksgiving, which took place on 8th June, alongside some of the 10,000 charities who have benefitted from the Trust and Group’s charitable giving over recent years.
His Royal Highness attended the special celebration on behalf of The Prince’s Foundation, a foundation we have supported for a number of years. A recent grant to the foundation has helped to establish a new heritage skills programme in Ireland. The course aims to preserve at-risk heritage building skills and support aspiring craftspeople across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, was Sally Randall, CEO and Founder of Abby’s heroes, a charity offering help and support to children and their families suffering from the impact of cancer. Also speaking at the service was Jay Blades, star of the Repair Shop, Ambassador for The Prince’s Foundation and supporter of literacy charity, Read Easy UK.
Beneficiaries travelled from across the UK and Ireland to attend the event, including the CEO and Deputy Chair of Parish Nursing Ministries UK, who recently received a Benefact Trust grant of £125,000 to expand vital parish nursing services across the country. The Strategic Development Director of The Big House Ireland also attended, after recently receiving £170,000 towards the creation of a safe and supportive space for vulnerable young people in Northern Ireland.
Lesley King-Lewis, Benefact Trust Director, said: “A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us at Westminster Abbey to celebrate our £100m milestone.
“The Service of Thanksgiving was not only an opportunity to recognise our contribution to thousands of amazing causes; it was a chance to celebrate the beneficiaries on the ground making the difference. It was also a celebration of the Trust and Group’s new ‘Benefact’ name which will open up opportunities for greater giving in the future.”
Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “Our Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey was a wonderful celebration of our achievement of donating £100 million to good causes, which has helped to change thousands of lives for the better in the UK and abroad.
“Benefact Group distributes donations through a range of programmes – employee giving, business giving and Group-led programmes such as its Movement for Good Awards – as well as giving all available profits to its charitable owner, Benefact Trust.
“As a company whose purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, charitable giving is at the heart of what we do.”
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