The Financial Ombudsman Service supports a fairer deal for kidney patients
Kidney Research UK has been chosen to be the charity partner to the Financial Ombudsman Service under its Giving Something Back initiative. The two organisations will work together to raise awareness of kidney disease and raise money to transform treatments so kidney patients can live better, longer lives.
The Financial Ombudsman Service settles disputes between customers and financial service providers. With fairness at the foundation of its values, the employee-led Giving Something Back committee empathised with the hardships experienced by kidney patients, as described in the organisation’s pitch to become charity partner.
“Following an organisation-wide vote, we are delighted to be partnering with Kidney Research UK, helping to support their important work through the fundraising activities of our staff,” said Tim Archer, from the Financial Ombudsman Service. The partnership activities kicked off on Sunday 31 July when volunteers from the FO turned out to support Kidney Research UK’s flagship fundraising event, the London Bridges Walk. Further engagement and fundraising activities will be developed with FO staff over the coming months.
Kevin McKenna, partnership development manager at Kidney Research UK said: “We’re excited to share information about kidney health with the Financial Ombudsman Service’s employees and to inspire them to spread the word about our essential research. Around seven per cent of UK adults have kidney disease, so members of staff are likely to know someone affected by it, perhaps without realising it. Every member of staff can do so much to help us in our mission to end kidney disease.”
For some staff members, the cause is very close to home.
Billie is an employee at the Financial Ombudsman Service. She is all too familiar with the need for better treatments for kidney disease. She developed kidney failure after complications from a stem cell transplant to combat leukaemia in 2016 and has been reliant on dialysis for the last few years.
Billie said: “I’ve been very open about my condition with my employer, and my colleagues recognise the impact it’s had on me. Now I’m really proud that my workplace is able to represent that and represent something so close to my heart.
“The work the charity does is all-important. Kidney problems have such an impact. It affects so many lives, and people don’t view it as something terminal. They just think, ‘You can just do dialysis’.
“It can lose its significance. But when you live it every day, you realise it’s not a life that other people live. It’s very isolating. Kidney Research UK is helping to spread awareness that treatments can and should be improved.”
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