Liverpool cash plan provider Medicash has been awarded the Freedom of the City. The civic honour is the highest nomination that can be bestowed to an organisation that has rendered significant and valuable service to the City of Liverpool and its citizens.
Medicash has a history dating back to 1871 when it helped fund local voluntary hospitals before later evolving as the Penny in the Pound Fund, which many Liverpool people remember today.
Other organisations to have received the Freedom of the City include the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Everton in the Community, the Whitechapel Centre, Linda McCartney Centre and St. Paul’s Eye Unit. All have received charitable donations from Medicash.
The decision was made at an Extraordinary Council Meeting held in the Town Hall, where it was unanimously agreed that Medicash should receive the award in recognition of its longstanding commitment to charitable giving and contribution to healthcare. The nomination was made by former Lord Mayor, Cllr Gary Millar.
Medicash Chief Executive Sue Weir said: “We are all absolutely thrilled and delighted with this recognition. It is a tremendous honour for us and reflects the hard work and important contributions of current and former Medicash staff. It is also testament to the invaluable work done by all those involved with the projects and organisations we have supported over the last 147 years.”
Lord Mayor, Cllr Christine Banks said: “Freedom of the City status is reserved for selected organisations that have made a very special and significant, long-term contribution to the people of Liverpool. Medicash’s distinguished record of philanthropy and work in healthcare means the organisation is thoroughly deserving of this award. Staff, past and present, should be very proud.”
Medicash employs over 80 staff from its offices in Derby Square. The organisation provides affordable health plans to individuals and businesses across the UK. The plans are designed to allow people to budget for their healthcare needs and access a wide range of quality healthcare services whilst promoting a positive culture around health in the workplace.
Over the last ten years Medicash has donated over £1 million to NHS and health-related charities. Charities that have benefited from Medicash donations recently also include Samaritans, the Firefighters Charity and Medicash Chair, Frank Field MP’s ‘Feeding Birkenhead’ initiative.
Last year, Medicash won the Silver Cardiac Smart Award from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) NHS Trust in recognition of its CardiACT campaign which saw 55 defibrillators installed across the region.
Medicash will now be formally admitted to the Freedom Roll of Associations and Institutions of the City of Liverpool. The official Freedom of the City ceremony will take place on October 11th this year. Lord Mayor, Cllr Christine Banks, will formally present the Freedom Scroll to Medicash in the company of over 150 distinguished guests at Liverpool Town Hall.