Charity and sponsorship requests

esure makes considerable donations to charities as part of the wider efforts of the Halifax Bank of Scotland Group (HBOS). HBOS's efforts are co-ordinated through the HBOS Foundation, which has made provision for £24 million to be donated to UK charities and community groups over the next 3 years. Each year we take part in the HBOS Foundation Million £ Challenge where HBOS colleagues - including esure staff - commit to raise at least £1 million for charity. The HBOS Foundation matches £-for-£ any monies raised in the course of the Challenge to make a donation of at least £1 million. This year's Million £ Challenge charity is the British Heart Foundation.

Each year, if the £1m target is passed, the extra funds are divided between the nominated charity and two others who were originally in the running. In 2007 the other charities that will benefit are WRVS and Family Holidays Association in partnership with the RNLI. In previous years, ICAN, Leonard Cheshire, Crisis, the NSPCC/Children 1st, Help the Hospices, Macmillan Cancer Relief, Samaritans, Help the Aged, Barnado's, Mencap, Childline and the Alzheimer's Society are among the national charities who have benefited. In total £15.4m has been raised via the Foundation over the last four years.

The HBOS Foundation automatically matches money raised for its nominated charities, so esure focuses its charitable giving and activity on these causes so that our donations can have the greatest impact. Consequently, we rarely consider requests for support from other national charities. esure occasionally considers proposals submitted in writing from good causes which are local (i.e. within a few miles) to our three offices in Reigate, Glasgow and Manchester. This reflects our efforts to give something back to the communities that our staff work within.

esure does not consider requests from individuals or groups seeking sponsorship for sporting activities or pursuing personal challenges/ambitions. We believe our efforts are best focused on our support for the HBOS Foundation's activities - which have a nationwide and demonstrable benefit - or causes which help and improve our local communities and share the benefits.

For more information on the HBOS Foundation go to www.hbosfoundation.org.