Santander employees across the UK have raised more than £1.1 million for the bank’s charity partners Age UK and Barnardo’s through fundraising events during 2016.
Following an all staff vote, Age UK and Barnardo’s were selected to be Santander’s charity partners from 2016 – 2018 with the bank aiming to raise £3 million over the three-year period.
Throughout 2016, bank employees raised funds through a range of activities. These included going retro for the ‘A Twist in Time’ launch event at the beginning of the year, and then taking to the roads, tracks and waterways for the Flame Relay in June, a race across the UK using a variety of modes of transport.
Later in the year teams embarked on the Isle Challenge; went head-to-head in Store Wars; travelled to South Africa to build houses for AIDS orphans; and donned their favourite festive-wear at Christmas. In addition, staff also organised balls, karting races, quizzes, treasure hunts and various sporting challenges.
Keith Moor, Chief Marketing Officer at Santander: “At Santander supporting the communities in which we operate is integral to our purpose to help people and businesses prosper. Through our charity, community work and partnerships with Age UK and Barnardo’s we hope to help the most vulnerable people to succeed in a rapidly changing world. I saw first-hand the passion, creativity and commitment of many colleagues across the bank in 2016, and I’m looking forward to seeing what 2017 has in store.”
Forbes Mutch, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Barnardo’s said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from Santander staff in the first year of this partnership with Age UK and Barnardo’s. The generosity and commitment has been truly remarkable and is vital to helping both charities change lives. We’re thrilled to be continuing our partnership for the next two years.”
Hannorah Lee, Head of Community and Corporate Partnerships, at Age UK said: “The dedicated staff at Santander have raised an incredible amount for both charities in the first year alone and we are truly grateful to them for all their efforts. Funds raised will help us make a difference to the lives of older people in so many ways and they should be really proud of their achievement.”
Volunteering has also played an important part in the partnership activity. Over 50 Santander employees signed up to make regular friendship calls on Age UK’s “Call in Time” programme; staff gave workshops on topics including digital skills, fraud awareness and financial capability to schools and local community groups; and over 60 volunteering days, known as Discovery Days, took place with staff helping in their local communities.
Santander’s staff voted to support Age UK and Barnardo’s to help transform the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people at each end of the age spectrum. Regardless of age, isolation, loneliness and a lack of opportunity can be crippling to mental health and wellbeing, and can prevent any chance of living an enjoyable and independent life. The funds raised through the partnership will help to enable Age UK and Barnardo’s to be there for younger and older people when no one else is.
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Media Contact
Sarah Webster at Santander Tel: 020 7756 5533 Mob: 07568112529
Sarah.webster@santander.co.uk
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Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. As at 30 June 2016, the bank serves around 14 million active customers with c. 20,000 employees and operates through 841 branches (which includes 58 university branches) and 69 regional Corporate Business Centres. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the UK. Santander UK plc customers are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the UK.
Age UK
We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI and our local Age UK partners in England (together the Age UK Family). We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.
Age UK believes that everyone should have the opportunity to make the most of later life, whatever their circumstances. We provide free information, advice and support to over six million people; commercial products and services to over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well-being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle.
Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group (“we”). Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity’s trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).
Barnardo’s
Thomas Barnardo’s vision was for no child to be turned away from the help they need. Last year 248,000 children, young people and families were supported by Barnardo’s through more than 996 services across the UK, such as young carers, care leavers, foster carers and adoptive parents, training and skills or parenting classes. We work to transform the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and every year we help thousands of families to build a better future. But we cannot do it without you. Visit www.barnardos.org.uk to find out how you can get involved.
Registered charity No. 216250 and SC037605
Follow Barnardo’s media team on Twitter @BarnardosNews