Charity and Community

We are proud of how passionate our employees are about their local communities. And we recognise that doing well as a company means doing good in the world. We don’t just want to do it for us. We want to make sure we have a positive impact in our communities too.

So, each and every year, we fundraise for employee-chosen local charities. We donate to vital foodbanks, we sponsor local sports teams, take part in community events and national events such as Race for Life and various marathons, such as the London Marathon. Our employees are also enabled to volunteer their help and support to these charities in special away days.

Who are we supporting for 2023?

Worcester – Worcestershire Animal Rescue Shelter
Formed in 1983, Worcestershire Animal Rescue Shelte r provides urgent care to abandoned, unwanted and mistreated animals. The charity’s main aims are to give shelter, medical treatment and care, and, of course, to re-home cats, dogs and ex-battery hens. Support is vital for the charity to meet running costs and, most importantly, the welfare needs of the animals in their care.

Winchester – Winchester Hospice
Winchester Hospice provides specialist palliative and end of life care to adults with life-limiting illness. It is part of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is led by the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s palliative care team who see first-hand how important it is to have a local hospice facility for the people of Winchester.

St Richard’s/Willen/Simon Says

2022

Throughout 2022, we supported St Richard’s Hospice (Worcester), Willen Hospice (Milton Keynes) and Simon Says (Winchester). We are proud to have donated: £14,350.65 (combined).

Acorns/Willen/Naomi House & Jacksplace

2020-2021

Acorns Children’s Hospice was our Worcester charity partner; Willen Hospice for Milton Keynes; and Naomi House and Jacksplace (part of the Wessex Children’s Hospice Trust) for Winchester. We supported these charities for two years due to the pandemic, with a range of activities such as the Tour de Open GI. We are proud to have donated: £17,476 (combined).

Midlands and HOIW Air Ambulances

2019

For 2019, we supported the tremendous Midlands Air Ambulance and Hampshire And Isle of Wight Air Ambulance charities through our Worcester, and Winchester and Milton Keynes offices respectively. We are proud to have donated: £22,606.

Acorns Children’s Hospice

2018

Over the course of 2018, employees at Open GI took part in the Worcester 10K and half marathon, the Birmingham half marathon, three overseas marathons, the Alfa Wolf Run and a London to Paris cycle ride. Various themed events such as Halloween and Christmas jumper dress up days, bake sales, raffles and quiz nights. We are proud to have donated: £27,582.

New Hope

2017

This year saw us support New Hope, a specialist organisation that works with families of children with disabilities and complex healthcare needs. The organisation runs a school holiday club and Saturday club throughout the year. New Hope was established by the inspirational Jean Wilson in 2010 and she continues to work tirelessly, providing much-needed care to families and children. We are proud to have donated: £25,885.

St. Richard’s Hospice

2016

In 2016 we partnered with St. Richard’s Hospice, an independent charity which provides free care for over 2,600 patients and their loved ones living with life-limiting illnesses. We are incredibly proud of our staff who gave up their time volunteering and raising funds for the cause, taking part in rainbow runs, races, skydives, bake sales, raffles, dress-up days and more. We are proud to have donated: £31,580.

Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign

2015

We exceeded our fundraising target for the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign, a local breast cancer charity. Our team members took part in many fun and memorable events to raise funds and awareness for the cause including: Worcester 10K, Mud Run, summer fete, dragon boat racing, cake sales and regular dress down days. We are proud to have donated: £34,200.

Libby Mae’s Little Angels

2014

We do enjoy supporting the local community as well as regional causes and in 2014 we exceeded our forecast target for Libby Mae’s Little Angels, a charity supporting 19 neo-natal units in the Midlands. A number of fundraising events were held throughout the year including a summer fete, charity car washes, sporting events, cake sales and regular dress down days. We are proud to have donated: £19,432.

Midlands Air Ambulance

2013

This year we supported the fantastic Midlands Air Ambulance Charity with a variety of activities that saw employees taking part in the London Marathon, Tour de Midlands cycle ride and the Stratford-upon-Avon Marathon. We were extremely proud that we almost trebled the previous year’s £6k target. We are proud to have donated: £17,061.

Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust

2012

Employees took part in The Walk of Worcestershire, a charity sky-dive and the Birmingham half marathon. In addition, Open GI staff also took part in an insurance industry, five-a-side football tournament, organised by Markerstudy, and helped to raise £30,000 in support of Help for Heroes and Hampton & Richmond Borough FC. We are proud to have donated: £14,992.