Santander employees from across the UK travelled to Liverpool last week to face off in a charity remake of the classic game show ‘It’s a Knockout’. The event was made up of 16 teams, taking part in eight different challenges, including a basketball shootout and the human washing machine. The event saw participants donning huge costumes and facing foam, water and other obstacles, to raise money for Age UK and Barnardo’s.
The event was organised to raise funds for the bank’s charity partners and help Santander UK reach its goal, of raising £3 million for Barnardo’s and Age UK by the end of 2018. Last year, activities such as sponsored runs and bike rides, helped Santander employees raise over £1.1 million for the two charities.
Louise Shield, Director of Corporate Communications at Santander, said: “Many of us grew up watching ‘It’s a Knockout’, so staging this event was not only great fun but also a good way to demonstrate our commitment as a bank to helping businesses and people prosper. We want to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate, supporting those most in need.”
Head of Corporate Fundraising at Barnardo’s, Forbes Mutch, said: “It’s great to see so many of Santander’s employees coming together to take part in fundraising activities such as this ‘It’s a Knockout’ event. The money raised through these events makes a huge difference to the charity, enabling us to help the most vulnerable children, young people, and families across the UK.”
Hannorah Lee, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Age UK, commented: “A massive thank you to those who took part in Santander’s ‘It’s a Knockout’ event. 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.”
Milton Keynes played host to a second It’s a Knockout event last week, with a further 207 employees taking part to raise money for Barnardo’s and Age UK. The events saw a total of just over £40,000 raised for the two charity partners.
Over the course of 2017, Santander is supporting a host of fundraising activities for the two charities, including a Store Wars initiative, a Newcastle to Bootle cycle challenge, and an International Challenge, which will see employees travelling abroad to help build a school in Nepal.
- End -
Notes to Editors:
Media Contact
Stephanie Harris at Santander E: stephanie.harris@santander.co.uk T: 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 Barnado's media team on Twitter @BarnadosNews