Kinlochlovin, a Kinlochleven-based social enterprise that encourages young people to participate in local enterprise activities to promote social inclusion and skills, has received £1,000 of matched funding from Santander’s new Changemaker Fund.
The Fund, which was launched at the end of last year as part of an innovative collaboration between Santander and a rewards-based crowdfunding platform, is designed to help social enterprises, small charities and community groups deliver projects that improve communities and help disadvantaged people to have confidence in the future.
Kinlochlovin aims to give local vulnerable and disadvantaged young people the support they need to improve their chances of a positive future. They do this through teaching young people entrepreneurial skills through craft workshops, with their final products being sold in the community. The additional funding will enable the project to renovate a retro caravan into a mobile shop to help support the student enterprises and enable them to sell their products within the wider community.
Sue Douthwaite, Managing Director of Santander Business Banking, commented: “We are thrilled to support Kinlochlovin to provide invaluable help to local young people so they can reach their full potential with the right skills to succeed in the future. We look forward to seeing how the project develops and we hope this provides the youngsters with new skills, confidence and optimism for the future.”
Anna McBride, Chairperson at Kinlochlovin, commented: “Through the Changemaker Fund we have been able to invest in our new mobile shop, enabling the young people to sell their products in the wider community, travelling further to other rural villages where they can create more business activity and learn new skills.”
The new Changemaker Fund, www.crowdfunder.co.uk/changemaker, is part of Santander’s flagship community programme, The Discovery Project, which aims to inspire people to have confidence in the future through projects that build skills, grow knowledge and support innovation.
By working together with Crowdfunder, Santander aims to enable entrepreneurs and community groups to tackle social challenges and create positive local impact. Eligible projects seeking funding of up to £20,000 and focussed on skills, knowledge and innovation that get the crowd’s backing will receive 50% of their funding requirement from Santander to ensure the enterprise reaches its target.
As well as access to the £200,000 matched funding from Santander, projects will benefit from crowdfunding team specialists with education, enterprise and coaching support to unlock further funds and create lasting impacts in communities across the UK.
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About Santander
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.
Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC LN) is a leading retail and commercial bank, headquartered in Spain, with a meaningful market share in 10 core countries in Europe and the Americas. It is among the world’s top banks by market capitalization. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper, in a way that is simple, personal and fair. Founded in 1857, Santander had EUR 1.52 trillion in managed funds, 125 million customers, 12,200 branches and 188,000 employees at the close of 2016. Santander made attributable profit of EUR 6,204 million in 2016, an increase of 4% compared to the previous year.
About Kinlochlovin
Kinlochlovin is a constituted social enterprise and OSCR registered charity which has been set up in order to support all young people in the Kinlochleven High School catchment area to participate in enhancing activities to promote health and wellbeing, social inclusion and social justice. For more information please visit http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/kinlochlovin-mobile-shop
Media Enquiries
Sarah Webster T: 020 7756 5533 M: 07568112529 E: sarah.webster@santander.co.uk
Stephanie Harris T: 020 7756 4221 M: 07841 506 668 E: stephanie.harris@santander.co.uk
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