ACE strongly believes in supporting the local communities in which we do business. Indeed, to celebrate ACE's 20th anniversary in 2005, ACE held a Global Day of Service on 7th November 2005, which saw employees across the world dedicating a day of voluntary service to local community charities and other worthy local causes. ACE's philanthropic focus is essentially targeted at children, health and safety and environmental projects.

ACE also has a long established employee/company charity matching scheme, through which the company matches funds raised in support of various registered charity projects.

Areas of Support

Previous donations have been made to charities in the following categories:

• Cancer
• Heart & stroke
• Asthma & arthritis
• Mental conditions
• Cerebal palsy
• Physical handicaps
• People with learning difficulties
• Elderly people

However, we also value and will consider supporting projects/charities outside these categories that ‘encourage good citizenship’, help disadvantaged people and generally add value to ACE's local communities.

Our preferred method of support to these charitable activities will be through cash donations; however, other methods of support may be considered subject to the circumstances of the request, e.g. donation of redundant equipment.

Areas we will not consider supporting fall generally into the following categories: 

• Medical research/industrial research using animals
• Political campaigns – political activities
• Causes to support warring factions
• Blood sports activities
• Religious sects

Community Support Policy Criteria

All applications for support must:

• Fall within the policy criteria
• Be documented in writing (in-house applications should be made using the appropriate form) and give details of the aim and objectives of the requesting organisation/event/project
• Give details of how and on what specifically the funding will be spent
• Confirm what other funding has already been secured for the request
• Funding for the same event can only be repeated for up to three years.
• A maximum of $5,000 funding will be levied for an individual request.

We reserve the right to communicate internally and externally any support we have provided to a project/event/charity.

We reserve the right to request a copy of any applying organisation’s most recent annual report & accounts.

Community Support Selection Group

A group of six-eight employees from different locations and business functions across Europe meet/communicate on a regular basis to consider requests for sponsorship/donations.

Decisions are based on the policy criteria established for the Community Support initiative.

Applications for charity support should be made by completing the ACE European Group Community Support Application Form and this should be sent electronically/fax/mail to:

Gaile Toms
Secretary ACE Europe Community Support Group
Kent House, Romney House
Maidstone
Kent ME15 6LT
Fax:  +44 (0)1622-403 045
e-mail: gaile.toms@acegroup.com