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• PROGRESS IN 2005: LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
• INVOLVING & SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES
• WHAT OUR STAFF TOLD US
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Other Community Initiatives and Developments

Young Excellence Scheme (YES)

We provide support to a number of young people who demonstrate exceptional talent in a particular field, be it sporting, musical or creative, in order that they may fully pursue their ambitions.

We now have 17 YES members practising music, drama and a wide variety of sporting disciplines including archery, artistic roller-skating, badminton and swimming. A number of these young sportsmen and women are working towards qualification for the 2012 Olympics, and their achievements are truly inspiring. A particularly outstanding piece of news we received at the start of 2006 was that one of our ex-YES members, Giles Long, had been awarded an MBE for services to Paralympic sport.

We normally support a young person for up to three years, but we occasionally extend this period according to the circumstances.

The following criteria apply:

• Applicants must be aged between 14 and 27.
• Applications from individuals playing team sports will only be considered if the individual is under the age of 18.
• Applicants must have already reached a very good standard in their chosen field.
• Applicants must not be in receipt of support from other financial services organisations.
• Applicants must have a genuine financial need relating to their field of expertise.

Individuals wishing to apply to the Scheme are invited to write to Margaret Hall.

Common Investment Fund

The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) UK Equitrack Fund was launched in February 2005. The fund is a joint venture with CAF, a not-for-profit service provider for charities. It is available only to voluntary sector organisations and carries the benefit of Stamp Duty exemption, and we are also offering participating charities a reduced annual management charge. It therefore enables us to provide charities with advantageous access to our investment expertise.

Emergency Relief

In January 2005, £115,806 was raised by Legal & General employees for the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Later in the year, a fundraising day was held in London in aid of the London Bombings Relief Fund, raising £1,456. Additionally, a number of staff members raised funds for the Asia Earthquake Appeal. Each of these fundraising efforts were matched in full by Legal & General.

Given the number and scale of catastrophic events that took place during 2005, and the concern expressed by many of our staff to raise funds for the victims, it became apparent that guidelines were needed for making decisions about which appeals we should support. We have now developed these guidelines, with reference to the criteria used by the Disasters Emergency Committee, and they will be used as a basis for decisions regarding support for appeals in the future.