Since being established in 2010, Suffolk-based chartered financial planner Kingsfleet has worked with numerous local, national and international charities, as well as supporting educational causes.
In the summer of 2022, Kingsfleet supported longstanding charity partner, Ipswich-based St Elizabeth Hospice, through its sponsorship of the Big Hoot Art Trail 2022.
Displayed until September, Big Hoot was an outdoor, family-friendly art trail which featured 50 individually designed Big Hoot and Little Hoot owl sculptures which participants were to venture out and locate around Ipswich. Each owl was sponsored by an individual business to help raise funds for the St Elizabeth Hospice, enabling it to continue to provide for those under its care.
There was significance in Kingsfleet’s choice of sponsorship, choosing to put its name to the sculpture known as Skool’s Owt. Kingsfleet has always had an affinity to education and supporting educational causes has been a longstanding commitment.
Managing director Colin Low said: “We have always had an objective of serving our local community and charitable causes, so it is a great pleasure to be taking part in the Big Hoot as part of our support for the great work of St Elizabeth Hospice.
“Since our inception 12 years ago, we have sought to deliver a social benefit as well as a profitable client-focused business. We do this by supporting educational causes in Suffolk as well as taking every possible opportunity to provide financial education through the mainstream media. That’s why we were looking for an owl with an educational theme!”
The location of the Skool’s Owt sculpture also had some symbolic significance, in that it was situated near the fountain in Ipswich’s Christchurch Park.
Low explained: “(Drinking fountains) are a testament to the philanthropic nature of business entrepreneurs from years gone by who wanted to provide for those who had no safe water supply.
“We believe it is time for businesses to have the same focus on community and philanthropy as our forebears did all those years ago.”
It is clearer than one may think that much of Kingsfleet’s ethos of philanthropy in the community is focused on education. Indeed, a hint at this can be found at the very heart of the business.
The company name, ‘Kingsfleet’ comes from the name of Low’s former primary school and as he has built the business over the years, he has sought to ensure that it supports local
educational causes as well as promoting the value of financial education and using its specialist knowledge for good.
Low continued: “We are in a unique position to advise our clients but also to use our specialist knowledge to educate those in our region about finance.”
To help in its aims, the business established the Kingsfleet Community Fund to support local educational causes and its impact has certainly not gone unnoticed.
Upon visiting the Suffolk Community Foundation in 2018, His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex met with Low and praised the impact of the Kingsfleet Community Fund in supporting education in the region.
Photo provided by Kingsfleet
