possible or participating in training schemes offered by some charities. In an effort to give back even more, we have introduced a ‘Volunteer Day’ for employees to use from 2020, granting them an additional day’s paid leave to be spent volunteering at a local charity of their choosing.
To date we have helped over 40 different not-for- profit organisations with their projects which have included a beach clean operation, covering the costs of a Christmas party for Jersey Mencap, new uniforms for staff at the Jersey Child Care Trust and the construction of squirrel bridges and hedgehog corridors in Jersey’s rural lanes. A year on from its launch, the Fund has proved to be so successful that the allocated pot of £20,000 was increased to £30,000 in an effort to help even more good causes. This year the bank also made the unprecedented decision to make an additional donation of £10,000 to those Channel Islands charities which our staff felt would have been most impacted by the pandemic. These included Age Concern, Salvation Army, Caring Cooks, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the JSPCA.
HOW CAN BUSINESSES DO MORE?
2020 has not been a year many of us will wish to remember fondly. But despite our hardships, circumstances have fostered a greater desire to look after those around us, whether they be employees, the greater community or charitable organisations hit hard by these challenging times.
By Lorraine McLean, Mortgage Sales Manager, Skipton International
Skipton have long been a business that puts people first, understanding that we can best serve our customers by better understanding their needs and whenever we can reach out to offer our support and shared resources. One of our best achievements over the past year has been in developing an approach to charitable giving and understanding that with a considered strategy a little can go a really long way.
A long-standing culture of giving within the Bank was formalised into a structured strategy in 2018, when we launched the Skipton Community Fund, supporting causes close to staff members’ hearts and various other not-for-profit projects. The Fund was created
Page 20 Beyond 20/20 - Philanthropy
in direct response to the struggles of charities suffering through Government cut-backs to funding and we felt there was an opportunity for us to make a large difference to these worthwhile and important causes. We looked to target those smaller organisations who may normally be overlooked for funding or perhaps did not have the resources to promote their cause widely. With grants offered up to £1,500 for projects or events taking place within the Channel Islands, the Fund hoped to enrich the lives of islanders while shining a light on some of the good and important work taking place across the Channel Islands.
Through the Fund we have still been able to support the interests of our staff members, aligning our giving with causes close to their hearts. Staff are encouraged to get involved with recipients from the Fund, offering volunteer services where
The positive benefits to Skipton of this structured approach speak for themselves, as we find ourselves shortlisted for an Investors in People Award for our CSR programme and on the list of finalists for two Leaders in Wellbeing Awards. We continue to enjoy fantastic rates of retention from our team and receive positive feedback from them on Skipton as a workplace. Despite the challenges we faced during Covid-19 we were proud to still be able to support our long-term partner, ArtHouse Jersey, in putting on the Skipton Forget-me Knots project and exhibition. Artists visited schools to provide workshops making paper flowers, exploring children’s emotions and feelings over the lockdown period.
Skipton is always exploring new ways through which we can reach people, connect and give back more. We believe it is our duty as good corporate citizens to give back to those communities in which we operate, playing our part in protecting and enhancing our fantastic way of life. Our ambition is that our CSR programme will encourage other corporates to expand their giving, allowing them to realise the capacity they have to give no matter what their size. If we can all play our small role in supporting our staff, the wellbeing of the community and to nurture the environment in which we operate, we can collectively have a great and lasting impact. We hope that whilst this last year has been difficult and challenging it has also provided every company with cause to pause, consider and reassess their approach to charitable giving and to evaluate the impact they are currently having.
Skipton International continues to grow in size and stature within the Channel Islands, providing mortgages and savings accounts to islanders. Its commitment to an extensive CSR programme which not only includes the Skipton Community Fund, but the continued support of various events, charities and initiatives, has earnt it a treasured place in the hearts of community members.
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