DUAL raises funds for ISPCC Childline

Christmas has a great way of focussing our minds on those things in our lives that really matter, particularly our family and friends. It often brings us closer together. However, a lovely letter of thanks received in the DUAL offices recently made us reflect a little more deeply on Christmas. For some people, celebrations, presents and close family connections are far away from their reality. 

CHILDLINE is often the first step for children who are experiencing abuse and neglect. For many children, it could be their only option for speaking to someone outside their family, and asking for help.

Childline is Ireland’s only 24-hour active listening service for children and young people, providing a free, confidential and non-judgemental space where children can talk about any issue on their mind. Every week they answer over 5000 online contacts, phone calls and texts from children and young people who need a safe space to talk.

Childline is a cause that is very close to our hearts in DUAL. During lockdown, we were looking for a way to keep us all connected while working from home. We wanted to take on a challenge that could help raise funds for the ISPCC, and also bring us closer together as a team.

On one of our weekly Teams calls, we decided that we should embark on a challenge that would see each of us walk, run or cycle 350km over the course of one month. This is the distance between each of our houses, so somehow it felt like we were taking a little road trip to see each other. And so our challenge was set.

At the beginning of our month-long challenge, it felt like we had all the time in the world to complete it. However, as soon as we outlined the challenge to our brokers and colleagues, and explained that all funds would be donated directly to the ISPCC, the donations started pouring in. It started to feel very real and we all had to step it up, quite literally.

We each tracked our daily activity and slowly the kms started to build up. The bonding experience of having a shared goal outside of work gave a renewed energy to our regular Teams meetings, and of course, exercise in general is great for lifting the spirits. We are very lucky that DUAL Group worldwide places a big emphasis on CSR activities, and our entire
fundraising efforts were matched financially by the company.

With DUAL matching the monies donated, we ultimately exceeded all expectations and raised over €9,000, a great achievement in so many ways for the team of nine involved.

What started out as something small, ended up impacting us all in DUAL much more than we would ever have anticipated. It brought us closer together as a team, with a shared, common purpose. It was also great fun and will hopefully, even in a small way, have a positive impact on a young person who has reached out for help.

Merry Christmas!

Helen Furlong is Business Development Executive for DUAL Underwriting Ireland DAC. DUAL specialise, amongst other areas, in high net worth personal insurance in Ireland. t: 01 6640001 / e:enquiry@dualgroup.ie
 

DUAL Underwriting Ireland DAC (trading as DUAL Private Client) is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Registered No. 633531. Registered office: 11, Fitzwilliam St. Upr., Dublin 2 DO2 YV66. Directors: Barry O’Dwyer (Managing), Ralph Snedden (British), Richard Clapham (British).

This article was published in the December edition of the Irish Broker magazine. Download PDF.