Re-generate

With success comes an opportunity to help people and communities to move forward.

Philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, charitable giving, volunteering and sponsorship - call it what you will but the insurance industry is a major contributor to community projects and initiatives that make a real and lasting difference to people throughout the UK and overseas. The top three companies alone contributed millions to charitable and community projects last year.

AXA's 14-year-old Hearts in Action global community partnership programme combines logistical and financial support with employee volunteering on a massive scale - over 15,000 staff members take part.

Allianz Cornhill meanwhile is building on its longstanding association with cricket by sponsoring the 'A Chance to Shine' initiative, which aims to regenerate competitive cricket in UK state schools.

Norwich Union, part of the Aviva group, has a similar relationship with athletics in the UK and, in addition to its high-profile sponsorship of the sport at the elite level, it supports a series of schemes designed to introduce and foster an interest in athletics among schoolchildren. Beneficiaries of these schemes include Paula Radcliffe, Mark Lewis-Francis and Denise Lewis.