Santander employees took part in a fundraising bike ride last week which saw them cycle across the UK from The North Sea to The Bristol Channel. The event, part of the bank’s “We Are Santander” fortnight, set out to raise money for Santander’s charity partners; Age UK and Barnardo’s.
Thirteen of the bank’s staff took on the challenge over three days, completing the 425km cycle in 21 hours 50 minutes.
The team raised a total of £12,800 during the event for Age UK and Barnardo’s, Santander UK’s chosen charity partners, who have been supported by the bank via a number of initiatives since January 2016. Further activity in the fortnight includes two ‘It’s a Knockout’ events, an 84 mile walk across Hadrian’s Wall and a 750km bike ride from Newcastle to Bootle, as well as a number of fundraising activities in branches across the UK.
Ben Covey, Divisional Manager at Santander UK, commented: “We’ve had a great time raising money and awareness for Santander’s charity partners. It was a tough but enjoyable ride, and we hope this will only encourage people to donate more to these two great causes.”
Hannorah Lee, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Age UK, commented: “This coast to coast cycle is a massive challenge and we thank all the Santander employees who have taken part, as well as those who have supported them on the way. The money raised for Age UK will help us to provide vital support and companionship to older people across the country; people who might otherwise have no one to turn to.”
Head of Corporate Fundraising at Barnardo’s, Forbes Mutch, said: “A massive thank you to everyone taking part in this fundraising cycle. Every young person wants to have the chance to reach the top, which is why our work is so important helping disadvantaged young people have the confidence and skills to get back into employment.”
Following an all-staff vote, Age UK and Barnardo’s were selected to form a collaborative partnership with the bank as part of its community investment strategy, The Discovery Project.
Over the course of 2017 Santander is supporting a host of fundraising activities for the two charities, including a “Store Wars” initiative, an International Challenge, and a number of branch and staff events. The bank aims to provide funding of up to £1.5m for each charity over the course of three years through a combined fundraising and grant programme.
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Notes to Editors:
Media Contact:
Stephanie Harris at Santander Email: stephanie.harris@santander.co.uk Tel: 020 7756 4221
The press office operates from 8.00am to 6.00pm. Outside of these hours please call 0800 5877708.
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.
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
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