BGL Group has launched a campaign to support community causes impacted by the coronavirus outbreak – which includes Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall, who will be receiving £100,000.

Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice Director Allison Mann said: "Thank you to everyone at BGL Group for your incredible donation during this challenging time – we are so grateful for your ongoing support.

"We provide expert palliative care for local people with life-limiting conditions, as well as supporting their families. Our nurses, doctors, healthcare and support staff give people the care they need to help them live the best life they can, through services such as our specialist inpatient unit and hospice at home.

"This vital contribution will ensure we can continue to offer our compassionate care and be there when it matters for people at the most difficult time of their lives.

"We recently launched an emergency appeal, as the coronavirus crisis has meant that our fundraising events are cancelled and charity shops are closed for the foreseeable future. It is having a big impact on our funding and although we are relieved to have received support from the government, it will only go some way.

"We are still reliant on the public to help us continue to provide our services.

"Thank you again to everyone at BGL Group for everything you are doing – your support really does make a difference."

The hospice is one of six current charity partners and each of those partners will receive an initial boost of between £50,000 and £100,000.

The remainder of the funding will be made available for applications through the company’s existing community committees, which include representatives from each of BGL’s locations in Peterborough, Sunderland, Wakefield, London and Paris.

On top of the donations, colleagues at BGL are participating in a Three Month Give through the company’s existing Payroll Giving scheme.

BGL’s Chief Executive, Matthew Donaldson, said: "Our CSR programme is very much part of who we are as a business, and we're fortunate to have such supportive shareholders. Our colleagues are passionate about supporting their communities in a whole range of ways and they've already been doing whatever they can to help others.

"The current global situation has made everybody really take a step back and think about their communities in a different way and we're no exception."

"The campaign is based on three simple principles: Empower, Pledge and Donate. We’re empowering our colleagues who want to do something more to support their community, or a cause close to them; pledging funds to our existing partners; and donating to causes facing additional strain as a result of the exceptional circumstances driven by coronavirus."

BGL has its headquarters in Peterborough and is home to brands including comparethemarket.com, LesFurets.com, Beagle Street, Budget and Dial Direct.

Charities wishing to apply for funding should email csr@bglgroup.co.uk outlining the purpose of the charity, how much funding they are seeking and what the money would be used for. Given the urgency of the current situation, community committees will be convening every two weeks to allocate funds.