Background to Community Connections

BUPA began helping communities in 1979 with the creation of the BUPA Foundation charity, which has awarded more than £19 million in grants to fund medical research. In 2000 the Board and Chief Executive commissioned research to see how the company should develop its charitable work further, particularly in the communities in which it operates. Following the research, which showed great scope for BUPA to expand on its work in the community, and the decision was made to set up Community Connections. The focus was on health, education and care for older people, in alignment with BUPA's key business objectives.

Since Community Connections was formed BUPA's donations to charitable causes have risen from £2.6 million to £5.3 million. In 2006 alone, BUPA people fundraised over £292,000 and BUPA Community Connections matched this to take it to £584,000.

In 2004, Community Connections expanded its charitable initiatives internationally to reflect its global presence. Community Connections has over 150 Community Champions, who work as community ambassadors, in the UK alone and networks are expanding in BUPA businesses around the world. Also, in celebration of its 60th anniversary in 2007, BUPA pledged to give £9 million to health-related charities around the world over three years.