Scarborough Gives Good Causes A Helping Hand

Press release published on 23 June 2006 by Scarborough Building Society

Scarborough Building Society is launching a competitive Clubs & Charities Account, as a signal of its community commitment.

The new account will offer an outstanding deal of 4.1% interest per annum for balances of £1-plus, on up to six withdrawals per year.

And, on seven or more withdrawals, the account still pays a healthy 3.4% interest per annum. Available to registered charities, clubs and associations, the Clubs & Charities Account will be available exclusively via the Scarborough’s branch network.

It has been created to support charitable and community organisations, as part of the Society’s Corporate Social Responsibility commitment, and in line with its branches’ remit of involvement in their local communities.

The product is just one of a number of steps taken by the Scarborough in recent months as part of its community involvement and outreach programme. The Society donates circa 1% of its pre-tax profits to charity every year – adding up to £50,000 for 2006/7.

It also adds value to this cash sum, through long-term partnerships, skills sharing and volunteering support.

Some examples of help the Scarborough has given to good causes in the ‘heartland’ communities covered by its branch network over the last 12 months are:

Funding the purchase of sports tops for every pupil of George Pindar Community Sports College (GPCSC) in Scarborough, for the next three years.
A three-year partnership with Graham School specialist science college, also in Scarborough, including the refurbishment of its science laboratories, purchase of interactive whiteboards and volunteering support, with staff sharing vocational skills with its pupils.
A three-year partnership with the world renowned Rotunda, William Smith Museum of Geology, in Scarborough, involving sponsorship and volunteering involvement to support delivery of educational workshops.
Collaboration with the North Yorkshire Business Education Partnership (NYBEP) to create a personal finance education resource pack for North Yorkshire schools, aligned with National Curriculum requirements.
A three-year agreement with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) involving funding for the purchase of equipment and plants, as well as offering staffing support for key projects.
For the future, the Scarborough is also planning to formalise an Agreed Staff Volunteering Time policy, allowing each member of staff one day’s paid leave to participate in structured community activities.

Head of Marketing Tony Burdin said: ‘We are very proud to launch this Clubs & Charities account, which boasts one of the best deals in the market for this type of account in terms of withdrawal options and a great return.

‘We already do a lot of work in the community, through which we try to add as much value as possible to charitable organisations and other good causes.

‘We do this through a combination of cash donation and long term partnership support, including volunteering involvement.

‘We decided to launch the dedicated charities account as another vehicle for adding value to organisations which give a lot to our heartland communities and need a little helping hand.’

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