The Feed, a Norwich-based social enterprise, has received £10,000 of matched funding from Santander’s new Changemaker Fund to help homeless and vulnerable people learn new skills and gain access to paid employment.
The Fund, which was launched at the end of last year as part of an innovative collaboration between Santander and a rewards-based crowdfunding platform, is designed to help social enterprises, small charities and community groups deliver projects that improve local communities and help disadvantaged people to have confidence in the future.
The Feed, part of the social enterprise LEAP, is a catering company helping vulnerable and socially excluded members of the community to enter sustainable, paid employment through programmes that offer personal development, work experience and improve self-confidence.
The funding will enable The Feed to open a stall on Norwich market which will offer employment opportunities and boost confidence through providing interactions with local people. All the profits from the stall will be reinvested to help transform the lives of more local vulnerable and disadvantaged adults.
Sue Douthwaite, Managing Director of Santander Business Banking, commented: “We are thrilled to support The Feed as it expands onto Norwich market. The work this social enterprise does to help vulnerable people in and around the city is really inspirational, and we look forward to seeing how the business develops.”
Barry Allard, Founder & Director at LEAP East CIC, commented: “Through the Changemaker Fund we have been able to join the Norwich market community, enabling our clients to experience working in a customer-facing operation. It will also give The Feed a permanent visible home in the local community so that even more people will see the good work that we are doing.”
The new Changemaker Fund, www.crowdfunder.co.uk/changemaker, is part of Santander’s flagship community programme, The Discovery Project, which aims to inspire people to have confidence in the future through projects that build skills, grow knowledge and support innovation.
By working together with Crowdfunder, Santander aims to enable entrepreneurs and community groups to tackle social challenges and create positive local impact. Eligible projects seeking funding of up to £20,000 and focussed on skills, knowledge and innovation that get the crowd’s backing will receive 50% of their funding requirement from Santander to ensure the enterprise reaches its target.
As well as access to the £200,000 matched funding from Santander, projects will benefit from crowdfunding team specialists with education, enterprise and coaching support to unlock further funds and create lasting impacts in communities across the UK.
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About Santander
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. It has brought real competition to the UK, through its innovative products for retail customers and relationship banking model for UK SMEs. At 31 December 2016, the bank serves around 14 million active customers with c20, 000 employees and operates through 841 branches (which includes 60 university branches) and 67 regional Corporate Business Centres. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the UK. Santander UK plc customers are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the UK.
Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC LN) is a leading retail and commercial bank, headquartered in Spain, with a meaningful market share in 10 core countries in Europe and the Americas. It is among the world’s top banks by market capitalization. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper, in a way that is simple, personal and fair. Founded in 1857, Santander had EUR 1.52 trillion in managed funds, 125 million customers, 12,200 branches and 188,000 employees at the close of 2016. Santander made attributable profit of EUR 6,204 million in 2016, an increase of 4% compared to the previous year.
About The Feed
The Feed is a catering company available for hire, and is the trading arm of the Norwich-based social enterprise LEAP. The Feed produces great tasting food while inspiring and motivating people to live a more fulfilling life. All of the profits are reinvested into LEAP to transform the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged adults in the local community. For more information please visit http://the-feed.co.uk/
Media Enquiries
Sarah Webster T: 020 7756 5533 M: 07568112529 E: sarah.webster@santander.co.uk
Stephanie Harris T: 020 7756 4221 M: 07841 506 668 E: stephanie.harris@santander.co.uk
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