Good causes across Northern Ireland benefit from £150,000 as part of NFU Mutual’s national charitable fund
NFU Mutual’s agent and branch offices across Northern Ireland have nominated 19 local charities in the region to receive a combined donation of £150,081 from a national £2.33million ‘Agency Giving Fund’ launched by the Head Office of rural insurer NFU Mutual.
To ensure these donations reached all corners of the UK and were directed to supporting essential front-line community services, NFU Mutual’s agency offices and branches, with more than 280 locations nationwide, were given the opportunity to nominate local charities to receive a share of the fund.
From providing food parcels, donating to frontline health charities and enabling outreach mental health services to continue, the fund is making a difference to communities across the region.
One of the charities to benefit in Northern Ireland was The Community Rescue Service, which was nominated by NFU Mutual East Antrim Agency, receiving a donation of £7,899.
Hazel Gallagher, Community Rescue Service Development Officer, explained how the donation helped: “This donation will help us with essential equipment and protective clothing that our teams need to carry out searches for vulnerable and missing people.
"Donations also help with fuel and upkeep of our vehicles and boats, which need to be reliable at all times. Donations can also be used to purchase drones, thermal imaging binoculars and similar specialised items that will help us in our searches.”
Another cause to benefit was Portadown Wellness Centre, which was nominated by NFU Mutual Portadown Agency, also receiving a donation of £7,899.
Alan McDowell, from the Portadown Wellness Centre, said: “We are so thrilled to have received funding from NFU Mutual.
"We are now able to refurbish our teaching pottery and install water and an extraction system to allow us to host new additional classes in pottery & ceramics in September 2025,” Alan concluded.
"Thank you so much to NFU Mutual for the incredible generosity of spirit and community kindness.”
Lauren Hamilton, NFU Mutual regional manager for Northern Ireland, added: “Charities like The Community Rescue Service and Portadown Wellness Centre are making a wonderful difference to our communities in these challenging times, and we are proud that our agents have nominated a wide range of local causes across the region to benefit from NFU Mutual’s national fund.”