A part of that community, the UK-based insurance major, Legal & General, is also into supporting things that go beyond its customers and business interests. Interestingly, Legal and General is even trying to step into the Indian insurance world. But its charity is restricted to the UK alone.

Says the spokesperson of Legal & General: ``We recognise that our responsibilities extend beyond customers, shareholders and staff to the community at large.'' He adds that the company is committed to supporting a small number of charities and non-profit organisations. ``Our commitment to these organisations usually lasts three to four years to maximise the effectiveness of ourcontributions.''

Legal & General also sponsors a number of young sportsmen and women through its `Young Excellence Sponsorship' (YES) programme. The YES programme is designed to foster talented young British people and help them become world-class in their chosen field, says the spokesperson.

For a better idea of YES, meet the first recipient, Georgia Bale. Aged 27, Bale was the first young person to be chosen for the programme. A successful show jumper for many years, Bale turned her sights to the challenging sport of eventing six years ago.

In eventing, rider and horse take part in three very different disciplines-dressage, cross country endurance and show jumping. Competitions are either one-day events, when all three disciplines take place on the same day, or three-day events. Bale trains all her own horses. She currently has four: Man in the Moon (11), Run the Risk (8), Gladrags (7) and a new mare, Cambrae Karisma-all at different stages in eventing. To help raise funds, Bale also keeps and trainsother people's horses.

In 1995, Bale won the final of the Burghley Young Event for four-year-olds and won again as a five-year-old the following year. Bale was disappointed with her performance with Man in the Moon at Badminton in May. Ian Stark rode Man in the Moon at the Eventers' Challenge at Hickstead in July and Bale competed on Man in the Moon at the British Open Championships at Gatcombe in August and also at Burghley in September.

Unfortunately, Run the Risk had a fall at the Windsor two-star, three-day event, but went to Blair Castle for the three-day event in August. Gladrags will go to the Weston Park three-day event in Shropshire at the end of the season. Bale's main ambition is to be selected for the Great Britain team for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

After Bale, it was the turn of Georgina Usher, aged 25. Usher was selected for YES in 1996. Encouraged by her mother, Usher began fencing when she was 12 and became the youngest National Champion when she was just 17, winning again when shewas 18.

Now aged 25, Usher already has a Commonwealth Games silver medal to her credit and is top of the British Women's ranking in her class. She is a member of the British Olympic squad, which is already in training for the millennium games and her world ranking has risen to number 17.

Usher has recently given up full-time work as a computer consultant to concentrate on her sport. Once again, she finished the 1997 season as Britain's No. 1, winning the majority of top UK competitions.

In April this year, Usher came second in the Luxembourg World Cup-the best ever result for a British lady fencer in 20 years. In May, she reached the 6th place in the World Cup event at Legnano, Italy, and also won the British Championships in Hendon, London. She trained hard for the Commonwealth Championships, which were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in August.

Besides YES, Legal & General sponsors Living Earth, a UK-based charity with an international programme for environmental education. Living Earth's programme,called `My Place, Our Place', sponsored by Legal & General, helps UK schools to develop their own environmental projects with a local business partner.

Plus, there's Children's Trust at Tadworth Court, which provides much needed specialised services for children with severe disabilities. Crime Concern, a national crime prevention organisation, is currently working in partnership with Legal & General on kickstart. The project aims to reduce crime by involving young people, particularly from deprived areas, in organising sporting, recreational and educational activities.

The Prostate Cancer Charity undertakes research, and offers information and support. The Rainbow Trust offers family centred care for children with life threatening illnesses. All with the help of Legal & General.

Then there's a unique carer's centre, also backed by this insurance major. The Princess Royal Trust for Carers (PRTC) is the only national organisation to provide, through its network of Carers Centres, a full range of support,information and practical help to carers. A carer is anybody helping to look after a partner, friend, relative or neighbour who cannot manage without help because of sickness, age or disability. The PRTC also aims to raise awareness of the needs of carers and to encourage more carers to seek the support that will make their role easier.

Compiled by Nivedita Mookerji from Legal & General's Website, www.legal-and-general.co.uk/lg/.