Communities

Santander's Community Relations programme encompasses three areas of activity:

  • Corporate Donations
  • Volunteering
  • Fundraising

Corporate Donations

The Santander Foundation was set up in 1990 to provide a focus for company charitable giving. Funding is prioritised to causes which benefit disadvantaged people within two categories: education & training and financial advice. Employee led Community Partnership Groups are involved in local grant-making and to date we have donated over £34 million to charities throughout the UK. For further information on the Santander Foundation please visit www.santanderfoundation.org.uk - full details are here about what grants are available and how to submit an application.

Volunteering

Santander supports staff volunteering through a matched time scheme where we give up to 35 hours a year of paid work time to enable employees to help their favourite causes.  Through our Community Days scheme, staff are encouraged to take a day out from the office to volunteer with a local cause. In 2010, over 1,100 employees supported 88 projects around the UK, working on conservation &regeneration projects and educational schemes with schools. We also work with local schools to offer mentoring opportunities for staff in our major office sites, including with Young Enterprise which provides educational programmes for 5-18 year olds and our staff help pupils understand the world of work and the dynamics of running a business.

Fundraising

Employees at Santander raise significant amounts of money every year for charities across the UK, and last year over £1.6 million was donated through their efforts and matched by Santander. To support and encourage them we run a Charity of the Year scheme and this year we aim to raise over £500,000 for Alzheimer's Society. Santander also participates in the Payroll Giving scheme to enable employees to make a monthly donation to charity directly from their salary.