Teams across the Society have been busy in the run-up to Christmas, delivering festive gifts through financial donations to our charity partners.
Each branch and our head office are partnered with a local charity, chosen by employees and members. Charity partnerships represent a long-term commitment to our local communities, and every year, employees and members come together to fundraise, support local events, and volunteer.
This year, we got stuck into a wide range of activities to raise funds and/or awareness, including:
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Quiz nights
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Baking competitions and bake sales
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Sales of our annual calendar
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Lucky dips, raffles, and tombolas at local events such as Thatcham Family Fun Day and Didcot's Bubble Rush Run
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Collecting non-perishable items for vulnerable people such as toiletries, tinned food, and instant noodles
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Collecting warm clothing, tents, and blankets for homeless people in West Berkshire
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Dress down days
Our members have a big part to play
The Society’s charity account provides a way for our savings members to give back, while still earning interest on their hard earned savings. When opening a charity account, members select one of our partners to support. At the end of each financial year, we donate to the charity in question, matching the interest earned.
Many of our members also donate in our branches and get involved in our fundraising events and initiatives, such as our bake sales. We thank them for their continued generosity, particularly when times are tough for so many.
Charity partner totals 2024
After another busy year of fundraising, we’re delighted to donate the following totals to our charity partners.
Newbury Soup Kitchen (head office)
A fantastic first year of fundraising resulted in a total of £19,553 for homelessness charity, Newbury Soup Kitchen (registered charity no.: 1179298). In addition to a sponsored sleep-out and Christmas quiz to raise funds, head office employees also donated over 100 instant cup noodles and warm clothes, tents, and sleeping bags to support the charity.
Helen and Douglas House (Abingdon and Didcot)
Abingdon and Didcot branches raised £8,027.89 for Helen and Douglas House (registered charity no. 1085951), who support terminally ill children and their families make memories. This year, the teams raised money through calendar sales, bake sales, and running a stall at a local 'Bubble Rush Run' event.
St Michael’s Hospice (Basingstoke)
Basingstoke branch raised £7,226.16 for St Michael’s Hospice (registered charity no. 1002856), who support those across North Hampshire with life-limiting illnesses, improving on last year's total by nearly £1,000.
Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice (Wokingham)
The team at Wokingham raised a total of £6,640.89 for Sue Ryder’s Duchess of Kent Hospice (registered charity no. 1052076), who ensure people do not have to go through grief, bereavement, or dying alone.
Newbury Cancer Care (Newbury)
Newbury branch raised a total of £13,315 for Newbury Cancer Care (registered charity no. 291975). The charity supports those in West Berkshire living with cancer and their loved ones.
Trinity Winchester (Winchester)
The Winchester team raised £3,920.53 for Trinity (registered charity no. 1074604), who support homeless and vulnerable people in Winchester. The total was presented at a special Christmas volunteering day, attended by Chief Executive, Phillippa Cardno, Chief Financial Officer, Darren Garner and Kelly Carter and Ian Bligdon from our Compliance Team.
Prior’s Court (Hungerford)
Team Hungerford raised £4,335.64 for their charity partner, Prior’s Court (registered charity no. 1070227), who provide education and residential care for young people with complex autism. The branch team raised money through weekly bake sales, as well as running stalls at local events.
Dementia Friendly Alton (Alton)
Alton Foodbank (registered charity no. 1151471), the outgoing charity partner of our Alton branch, received a cheque for £5,275.01 from Branch Manager, Julie Harness. The Alton branch team had a hugely successful first year of fundraising, topped off by an extremely popular quiz night at the Alton Assembly rooms.
Swings & Smiles (Thatcham)
In their first full year partnered with children's disability charity, Swings and Smiles (registered charity no.: 1120598), the Thatcham branch team raised a total of £2,518.44.
The Countess of Brecknock Hospice (Andover)
Another great total from the Andover branch team, who raised £8,386.83 for the Countess of Brecknock Hospice (registered charity no. 1067238). The Hospice is a specialist palliative care unit based at the Andover War Memorial Hospital.
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