Community matters
As a mutual, we care about our members, staff and local communities. Since our members and staff are part of wider communities, it's right for the Society to seek to play an active role in these, working together in a practical way to help bring about positive changes. We can do this through practical actions and grant giving. The Society's commitment to our Responsible Business Practices programme is strong, even in these difficult times. It is embedded in our culture and embraces our values.
What have we achieved in 2009?
- Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation donated over £450,000 to over 2,400 charities and good causes
- Total donations for the Foundation since its launch reached over £3.4m - just less than half provided by the Small Change, Big Difference™ scheme
- More than 9,600 causes have now been supported via the Foundation
- We have supported causes right across the UK, from SNAP (Special Needs Action Project) in Inverness to St Francis Home for Animals in Newquay
- 85% of causes supported were nominated by members or employees
- Barnsley customers were invited to participate in the Charity Choice Campaign - voting for local charities to receive a share of £10,000 from the Foundation. Ashgate Hospice was the most popular and received £3,500
The Foundation and Society's 2009 National Appeal, held during the Christmas period, has helped 10 charities since the first event in 1999, including Mencap, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Starlight Children's Foundation and the charity chosen for 2009, the British Heart Foundation - Heart to Heart Appeal. All money raised by member donations and staff events was matched, pound for pound, by the Charitable Foundation and a total donation of £115,000 was made to the British Heart Foundation. This money is being used to provide vital funds for their dedicated telephone helpline to cardiac nurses and heart health advisers. Anyone can call to ask about heart health problems or to just talk - a vital service for people whose lives have been devastated by heart disease.
Yorkshire Air Ambulance has received £90,000 through the Barnsley Building Society Savings Saves Lives account, which pays an amount equivalent to 1% of all balances in the account to the charity, from the Society. Paul Gowland from Yorkshire Air Ambulance gave a message to all account holders, "We believe in the Golden Hour. If we can take a patient from accident to medical attention within that period, the chances of recovery are dramatically increased. We now believe in golden pennies and pounds, because of your commitment to save for your own future it will ensure that ours continues at the same time. We aim to provide a platinum air ambulance service for Yorkshire and we see our link with Barnsley Building Society as a platinum partnership. As we search to strengthen our funding, this affinity account provides benefits for all involved and ultimately saves lives."