What impact has the board had on its regional community?
Charity partnerships
Over the past 14 years, our ‘One Week In September’ event has raised over £1.5 million for charities in Northern Ireland. During this week, our colleagues engage in various activities to generate vital funds for our chosen charity partner.
In 2023 and 2024, we partnered with the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice, which offers specialist palliative care to children and young people with life-limiting conditions while also supporting their families. We raised over £325,000 for this incredible cause, which included matched funding from NatWest Group.
For the next two years, we will be partnering with Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, which collaborates with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to deliver Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). We look forward to fundraising and providing skills-based volunteering to aid their development plans.
Recognising good deeds
Through our sponsorship of the Sunday Life Spirit of Northern Ireland Award, we celebrate ordinary people in Northern Ireland who have achieved extraordinary things. These inspirational individuals support their families and communities, and part of our ambition is to highlight their stories and give these unsung heroes the recognition they deserve. We want to help communities and businesses across Northern Ireland succeed, and the Sunday Life Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards play a key role in that effort.
What’s next for the board?
Building on success
As well as continuing to build meaningful networks across the region to deliver the bank’s strategy and purpose, we will continue to focus on activities that can make a tangible difference to our customers and communities, such as financial education and capability.
Financial Foundation workshops are a key part of this: a series of free and interactive workshops that can benefit community organisations or employers looking to provide financial wellbeing support. Designed for adults who want to improve their money management skills, financial confidence, and resilience, the programme is suitable for adults at all stages of life – whether that’s a group of senior citizens who meet at their local church and want to learn how to protect themselves from fraud and scams, or a large group of entry-level employees at a corporate client who are transitioning to financial independence. We will continue to deliver these workshops all over Northern Ireland, and they are available to all organisations, both customers and non-customers.
Ultimately, as a Regional Board, we want to build on the successes we have had working with communities, customers, and colleagues to strengthen connections and maximise the support we offer, either as dedicated charity partners or by fostering lasting relationships with our business and retail customers.
