Beacons of the Hampshire and Surrey community revealed

-Combined Insurance Community Awards Winners 2009-

Combined Insurance, the specialist provider of health and accident insurance has announced the five winners of the Combined Insurance Community Awards in the Hampshire and Surrey area. 

Combined Insurance joined forces with 96.4 Eagle Radio in November 2008 in order to find the people and businesses in the region that are making a special contribution to their community, with the winners selected from each of the five categories below each winning £1,000.  

The Winners

Category one: Combined Insurance Community Business Award

Winner: Kate Grant, Executive Head of the Jigsaw School 

This Award was made for the business that made special effort to invest in or support the local community, or provides a special product or service that benefits the community. Kate was nominated for her work over the past 10 years at the Jigsaw School which specialises in educating children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Kate has been the driving force behind the school’s development and has an enduring vision for the future which is to enable every child to reach their full potential by offering the best education and life skills.    

Category two: Combined Insurance Sport in the Community Award

Winner: Camberley Town Youth Football Club. Andrew Passfield

This Award was to the sports club, team or group that has provided facilities or an opportunity for people to participate in sport. The Camberley Town Youth Football Club was established 35 years ago and provides football for over 400 children in the local community. The club provides equal opportunities for all people who want to get involved and actively encourages its older members to become involved with the coaching of younger members.

Category three: Combined Insurance Community Volunteer Award

Winner: Hester Wain

This Award was for the individual or a group who give their time, unpaid, caring for the sick, disabled, elderly or less fortunate. Hester and her volunteers of Hart First Response give up their time to provide first aid and ambulance cover at over 80 local events every year. In addition, Hester volunteers for an average of 12 hours a week for Hart First Response and also organises the weekly training programmes for the charity.      

Category four: Combined Insurance Community Customer Service Award

Winner:  Gary Robins, Driver on No. 920 Pegasus School Bus

This Award was to the individual, group or retail business that offers excellent customer service and makes a positive difference to their local community. Gary Robins has driven the No. 920 school bus to Worplesdon School for the past three years and has always gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the safety of the children on his bus, has exceeded expectations and is a dedicated and committed employee.  

Category five: Combined Insurance Community Employer Award

Winner: Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society

This Award was for the employer that staff think is making a positive effort to improve or enhance their working environment and gives something back to their staff and/or your local community. As a not for profit organisation, every penny that the charity makes is reinvested into the company for the good of its residents and their needs and wishes underpin the way the company does business. 

 Mike Booth, Creative Services & Communications Manager – Europe for Combined Insurance said “Combined Insurance is a business that actively believes in investing in the people and the communities in which our people live and work. The Awards epitomise all that is honourable and good about the work being carried out in so many of the different and diverse communities across Great Britain. We want to thank all nominees for taking the time to enter the awards and we congratulate the winners on the fantastic work they all do in and around the Surrey and Hampshire region. “

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For further information please contact;

Rebecca Ellis-Owen/Jo Winser

Combined Insurance Press Office

T: 020 7269 7389

Combined.Insurance@fd.com

 Notes to Editor

For photography, please contact FD Consumer Dynamics on 0207 269 9389

All nominees were selected, shortlisted and chosen by a panel of judges assembled by Combined Insurance and 96.4 Eagle Radio.

About Combined Insurance

1.      Since 1919, Combined Insurance (www.combinedinsurance.co.uk) has specialised in bringing affordable, quality insurance products to individuals and families - and currently provides supplemental disability, accident, health and life cover to over 3.5 million policyholders. Combined Insurance has never forgotten its roots and today still provides a face-to-face service in local communities – just as it has done for the last 90 years. Combined Insurance is a member of the ACE Group of Companies.

2.      About ACE - The ACE Group of Companies is a global leader in insurance and reinsurance serving a diverse group of clients.  Headed by ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE), a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index, the ACE Group of Companies conducts its business on a worldwide basis with operating subsidiaries in more than 50 countries.  Additional information can be found at www.acelimited.com.