Aviva’s mission to highlight the plight of children on the streets

The fundraiser is just one of a number of charity events organised by the insurer each year as part of its commitment to corporate responsibility in the communities it operates in.

Aviva, which is sponsoring the Yorkshire Post’s Excellence in Business Business Community Award, said nearly 300 Aviva employees slept out across eight locations in the UK, US and Ireland, including York, Sheffield, London, Norwich and Glasgow.

The money raised will be given to local charity partners and will help raise awareness of the issues that affect street children on a daily basis.

‘Aviva Sleep Out’ is part of the insurer’s ‘Street to School’ programme and its partnership with Railway Children, which helps vulnerable children living alone and at risk on the streets.

For these children, the streets are often the only means of support available, but also the place where they suffer abuse and exploitation.

Railway Children believes that early intervention is crucial to reaching a child before an abuser. Its aim is to stop a runaway child becoming a street child and its motto is to get to street kids before the street gets to them.

John Lister, finance director of Aviva UK Life, was one of those sleeping out in York.

He said: “We want to help get 16-year-olds off the streets. Myself and 15 colleagues slept on cardboard in sleeping bags. Across the country staff have been sponsored by friends and family to live like the children who have nowhere to go.”

Mr Lister said that Aviva takes corporate responsibility very seriously across the group.

Staff are given three days off a year to volunteer for community and charity programmes, delivering over 24,000 volunteering hours a year.

John Ainley, Aviva’s group HR director and executive co-sponsor of the ‘Street to School’ initiative, said: “Aviva Street to School has captured the hearts and minds of our employees, business partners and customers alike and I’m proud that we’re using our scale and strength as an international group not only to help our communities close to home, but raise awareness of the ever-growing global issue.”

Terina Keene, Railway Children’s chief executive, said: “Our partnership with Aviva is making a huge difference to children living on the streets in the UK.

“Our research ‘Off the Radar’ reveals that UK children run away from home for many reasons, just as they do in developing countries. Many of them are never reported missing and they will sleep on the streets because they are too afraid to go home.

“In order for us to help our most vulnerable children, it is critical that we raise awareness of their needs and their existence here in the UK. If we are to succeed in our efforts to help these children, the support from Aviva and their staff is invaluable.”

Through the ‘Street to School’ programme Aviva will support street children projects in the UK and in 27 other countries around the world.

While Aviva’s customers buy insurance, savings and investments to look after themselves and their families, the insurer said street children have no-one to protect and care for them.

In 2010, Aviva invested £4.3m into the community, which included 1,500 Aviva UK volunteers giving over 24,000 hours for good causes.

In addition employees raised over £340,000 for charities, and £270,000 was given to charity through Payroll Giving.

Mr Lister said that Aviva is also involved in ‘Starting Blocks’, an initiative developed in partnership with York Cares, to support children in their transition from care into the workplace.

This programme won the Community Impact Award from Business in the Community and the Government used it as a blueprint for the national Care to Work programme.

“We believe employers should work with the community,” said Mr Lister. “It’s a win for the community and a win for employees.”

He added that Aviva’s sponsorship of the Yorkshire Post’s Excellence in Business Business Community Award shows Aviva’s commitment to supporting communities and also its support of businesses that want to help their communities.

The award categories

Young Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by O2, open to owner managers and directors aged 35 and under.

Innovation of the Year, sponsored by Drax.

SME Manufacturer of the Year, sponsored by TC Harrison JCB, open to companies with a turnover of £10m or less.

Outstanding Employer of the Year, sponsored by the Bradford University School of Management.

Exporter of the Year, sponsored by thebigword.

Business Community Award, sponsored by Aviva.

Young Business of the Year, sponsored by Goldman Sachs.

Companies with a Turnover up to £10m, sponsored by Yorkshire Bank.

Companies with a Turnover between £10m and £50m, sponsored by PwC.

Companies with a Turnover above £50m, sponsored by DLA Piper.

The Yorkshire Post Individual Award for Excellence, chosen by this newspaper.