The charity sector now has a significant body of members within AIRMIC, thanks to support from UK broker Willis.

The charity sector now has a significant body of members within AIRMIC, thanks to support from UK broker Willis. More than 20 charities are now represented within the association, following a sponsorship initiative to encourage membership of the UK's leading risk management organisation.

The initiative arranged by the Charities Consortium, AIRMIC, and Willis has assisted charities in their quest for improved professional skills, networking opportunities and increased knowledge of risk management. Willis's support was formally recognised recently with the presentation of a framed igth century print, depicting a rescue at sea (one of AIRMIC's new charity members is the RNLI).

Bob Guthrie, deputy chairman (UK Retail), Willis UK Ltd received the gift from AIRMIC deputy chairman Alan Fleming. They are pictured during the exchange (third and fourth right, respectively), watched by, left to right, David Gamble, executive director AIRMIC; David King, finance director, Imperial Cancer Research Fund; David Taylor, director, Charities Consortium; and Mike Lalley, insurance and risk manager, NSPCC.

Charities now included within AIRMIC are Barnados, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research Campaign, Christian Aid, Consumers' Association, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Help the Aged, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Marie Curie Cancer Care, National Asthma Campaign, National Trust, NCH Action for Children, NSPCC, Oxfam, Peoples' Dispensary for Sick Animals, Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew), RNLI, RSPB, Save the Children Fund, Scope and The Prince's Trust.

Commenting after the presentation, AIRMIC executive director David Gamble, said: "We are extremely grateful to Willis for their help in this project. The influx of new members has shown that there is an increasing awareness among charitable organisations of the risks associated with their operations, particularly as society becomes more competitive and litigious and fund-raising becomes more complex."