As a mutual we are committed to supporting our customers and the communities in which they work. Our core value of "We Care" reflects this approach and we aim to make a difference where it matters.
Earlier this year, we were pleased to help our Advisory Board member Judith Husband when she requested support to allow her to travel to the migrant camps in Greece and provide emergency dental treatment.
Judith was responding to a joint plea from international dental charity Dentaid and the British Red Cross for volunteer dental professionals to travel to two camps and provide dental treatment for adults and children caught up in the humanitarian crisis.
The camps in Cherso and Nea Kavala were home to around 4,000 people and while there was some basic healthcare, there was no dental provision adding to the appalling suffering faced by thousands of people who have fled their homes. Volunteers were required to work in the most basic conditions setting up surgery in a tent and using portable equipment.
Speaking about her experiences, Judith said: "Julie, my dental nurse, and I had often talked about undertaking some sort of volunteer work but due to work and home commitments the existing programs, requiring weeks living away, were just not achievable. This request was for dentists to work over a long weekend and we saw it as a golden opportunity to help and share our experience.
"It's very easy to see homeless, poorly clothed, desperate individuals on television or in newspapers and make assumptions based solely on appearance. As I later learned when treating my patients, many of these individuals were, in their past lives, professionals; had small businesses, good educations, good homes and stable, happy lives. No different to the lives enjoyed by you and me.
"It was an exhausting, emotional but hugely rewarding trip and I'm grateful for the generous support of Wesleyan which gave me a chance to make a difference.
If you'd like to get a flavour of Judith's experience you can read her
extract from her blog.