Ethical key for donations to wildlife charities – from hedgehogs to elephants – launched
Supporters of wildlife charities throughout the United Kingdom will be able to contribute financial support to them without incurring additional penalties upon family incomes.
The project, launched at South Cerney in Gloucestershire, has also attracted significant interest from around the world from supporters who have asked if Evergreen can become international to also aid the protection of lions, tigers,elephants and other wildlife at risk from predators and illegal animal hunters.
Evergreen, an additional to family and business policies, has been created by insurance broker David Gardiner of Evergreen Insurance Services and is has already been adopted by insurers Liverpool Victoria, Zurich, Ageas, Allianz,Covea, Axa and Pii Underwriting for UK customers.
Evergreen enables customers of the insurance companies to nominate a wildlife charity top receive a percentage of commissions in the purchase of home, contents, travel,health and business insurance.
Each selected wildlife charity policy will enable commission payments to be made to customer selected charities – for example 10 per cent of the appropriate commission in year one, 15 in the second year, and 25 per cent thereafter,each year, until the policy is brought to an end.
David Gardiner said: “I have dream of supporting wildlife in a creative way for many year…then the idea suddenly came to me and the response from insurance companies and charities has been astonishing.
“I firmly believe Evergreen is a way forward, perhaps a leader for others, to enable them to face head on rising costs and challenges, which seem to be effecting them all, whatever the charity purpose .”
Tamsin Whinton of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, which supports reserves and animal care across many thousands of square miles, and whose Blakehill Nature Reserve is the home of Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre, near Cricklade, said: “Engaging with people in a purposeful way is vital for charities.Having a product which both aids the public and the charities is outstanding and David should be highly commended for this excellent idea.”
Pictured top: Serena Williams, founder of Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre, holds Wacky the two-week old albino blackbird alongside a normal two-week old blackbird. 2012.
