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13 February 2010
Contribute to Haiti's reconstruction through Haitian Microfinance Institutions
By chris @ 13:48 :: 117 Views :: :: News Items
Charity Bank joins other INAISE members to help Haitian member KNFP

At the moment, the coordination of the emergency assistance is a major issue, but it’s already time to think about Haiti’s reconstruction. 

INAISE is an international network of social finance organisations which includes Charity Bank.

Our Haitian member, KNFP (Konsey Nasyonal Finansman Popile), is made up of 9 Microfinance Institutions who work with almost 3000 solidarity mutual funds representing 365 000 people all around the country.

Like many other crucial players in the country, KNFP has lost all its assets (building, vehicles) in the earthquake. Moreover, with a current focus on aid, the development programs of its financial partners might be transferred to emergency help.
As a consequence, KNFP will face real difficulties and could see its capacity for intervention weakened dramatically.

We need your support to help KNFP become a key tool of Haitian reconstruction.

Our objectives are:

   1. To help KNFP rebuild its capacity for intervention: by searching for a new home from which operate, acquiring a replacement vehicle fleet and a new computer pool so that it can resume its daily activity.
   2. To enable KNFP, through its members, to welcome the inland migrants (by ensuring food and water supply and offer some camp facilities)
   3. To encourage the resumption of even basic economic activity amongst its members. Given the deep state of breakdown of the local economy, this can only be done through donations.

Today KNFP’s need, to rebuild a minimum structure and restart its activity, comes to 50 000 Euro. It’s not that much but it can have a real impact on over 65 000 Haitian families (about 365,000 people)
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19 December 2009
Fraudulent Emails
By lgaensly @ 10:03 :: 4107 Views :: :: News Items

Charity Bank is aware that fraudulent emails are being received by people in different parts of the world which either purport to have been sent by the Bank or state that the Bank will make payment for goods that those people have sold, frequently via internet auctions sites. It is not Charity Bank policy to act as an intermediary for making international payments for good and services.

Anyone receiving e-mails claiming that payment will be made by Charity Bank should not act upon that statement and report the incident to their local police authorities.

No responsibility attaches to The Charity Bank Limited in such circumstances
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08 December 2009
The Times Money Guide Gives Charity Bank’s Small Steps Account the Thumbs Up
By chris @ 13:49 :: 570 Views :: :: News Items, Press Release

The Times Money Guide Gives Charity Bank’s Small Steps Account the Thumbs Up


The Times newspaper has given Charity Bank’s Small Steps account the “thumbs up” in its need-to-know financial guide of current saving products.

Charity Bank’s Small Steps Account is for young people under 16, to encourage the idea of philanthropy from an early age. Because it only lends to charitable organisations doing vital work across the UK and beyond, they can be sure that their money will be used to make a difference to the most deprived people in their local communities.

The Chief Executive of Charity Bank, Malcolm Hayday, says: “The Small Steps account gives young people their first experience of saving for the common good.  As well as learning the benefits of having a savings pot, they’ll also be learning the value of money in making a difference.”

The account pays a healthy 2 per cent and is fixed for a minimum period of six months.

Money saved with Charity Bank is used to support organisations like CHICKS who provide disadvantaged children with the life enhancing experience of a free respite break away in the countryside. Charity Bank helped CHICKS buy a permanent home in Devon, enabling them to continue to provide respite holidays to children for many years to come.

Charity Bank Small Steps Account Application Form
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07 December 2009
Charity Bank Backs The Which? ‘Britain Needs Better Banks’ Campaign
By chris @ 10:12 :: 382 Views :: :: News Items, Press Release

CHARITY BANK BACKS THE WHICH?
‘BRITAIN NEEDS BETTER BANKS’ CAMPAIGN


Charity Bank is putting its name behind the Which? campaign for better banking.

With the general election approaching, the campaign aims to lobby Government to get tough on banks and to change banking to help ordinary people.

Which? is encouraging people to take action and demand that high street banks give customers better service and stop taking big risks.

It’s being backed by Charity Bank, which has remained relatively shielded from the recent banking turmoil, thanks to its responsible lending policy and because it hasn’t exposed itself to risk in the money markets. 

Recently announcing a 25 per cent growth in its balance sheet, it’s increasingly an option for depositors looking to do something different with their money.

That’s because it is the only bank in the UK that uses depositors’ money soley to support charitable organisations.  And its policy of publishing details of every loan it makes also appeals to customers demanding greater levels of transparency from the banking sector.

Charity Bank’s chief executive, Malcolm Hayday says “The Which? research shows that people are angry with the banks for being one of the root causes of the financial crisis and that, despite over £120 billion of taxpayers’ money going into the banking system, not much has improved. This campaign is about changing banking for the benefit of the consumer.”

“Banks like us, with a social as well as financial motivation, are an antidote to the banking crisis. We offer savers personal service, security and transparency and the knowledge that their money will be used to fund charities and help communities. We put people first and encourage other banks to do the same.”

Take a look at www.bnbb.org and if you agree with the campaign, Charity Bank encourages you to add your voice.
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07 December 2009
Charity Bank Earns Double Innovation Awards
By chris @ 10:06 :: 358 Views :: :: News Items, Press Release

CHARITY BANK EARNS DOUBLE INNOVATION AWARDS


The sector’s specialist bank received two major awards for its innovation last night at the Financial Innovation Awards.

Charity Bank, which was shortlisted in three categories of the awards run by the Institute of Financial Services (ifs) and now in its 12th year, won the judges’ praise for most effective partnerships strategy for its work with regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and most innovative customer experience programme for its Different Journeys initiative.

It was also nominated for most promising new product for its Charity ISA.

Of the first award the judges said: “Charity Bank’s pioneering partnership with Yorkshire Forward, the region’s development agency, creates a new model for financing community projects and charities so that much needed services can be offered to marginalised communities.”

Of the second award the judges said: “An excellent project – bringing trust and responsibility back to banking” and “a niche bank but very important in the charity field. Customer experiences are not like run-of-the-mill banks so I found it fascinating what has been achieved.”

Picking up the award at the ceremony, hosted by Sky Sports broadcaster and journalist Georgie Thompson, Charity Bank’s chief executive Malcolm Hayday said:
 
“We are honoured to have this recognition of our work and it’s a testimony to the passion and commitment of the team.  They want to make a difference, by making a creative use of people’s savings, in order to help charities and social enterprises deliver the best service they can to our communities.”

For more information about Charity Bank’s work, visit www.charitybank.org.
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18 November 2009
Liverpool and Sefton Communities set to benefit from £5M investment fund
By chris @ 10:14 :: 529 Views :: :: News Items

LIVERPOOL AND SEFTON COMMUNITIES SET TO BENEFIT FROM £5M INVESTMENT FUND


Liverpool savers and investors are being urged to back an exciting new initiative – creating a £5m investment fund to help regenerate one of the most deprived parts of the city.

Liverpool Vision, the city’s Economic Development Company, has teamed up with an ethical bank to support social enterprises in Liverpool and Sefton, via a guaranteed savings fund for private investors, businesses and wealth funds.

Money deposited in the new Liverpool Sefton Social Investment Bond will be invested in organisations working in North Liverpool and South Sefton in ways that will help give the area a new economic future while delivering quality public services meeting community needs.

The area, which is made up of six of the most deprived wards in the country, lags behind other parts of Liverpool that are seeing economic growth.  Business start-up and survival rates are well below those elsewhere in the city, and the UK average.
 
Liverpool Vision’s Director of investment and enterprise, Mike Taylor, says: “We know from talking to businesses in this area that one of the main barriers to starting up a business, and to business growth, is lack of available finance.  It is clearly proving difficult to attract new investment, making the challenge of regeneration an even tougher task.

“The problem needs a creative solution and we’re confident we’ve found that in the new Bond, which will encourage social investment – an alternative form of philanthropy, in that people don’t have to give their money away to support good causes.”

The Bond is available from Charity Bank, a charity that is also a regulated bank, which uses its depositors’ funds solely to invest in and support the social enterprise sector.

The money raised by the Bond will be used to offer loan finance from £50,000 to £2 million to social enterprises and other community organisations in North Liverpool and South Sefton that are creating jobs and bringing economic investment, regeneration and development to the area.

Mr Taylor, who will be at the official launch of the Bond tomorrow night [19 November] at the Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards, added: “I’m confident that businesses, charities and private individuals alike will get behind this innovative initiative to bring investment to the communities in Liverpool and Sefton that most need it.”

The Chief Executive of Charity Bank, Malcolm Hayday, said: “We’re looking forward to working with social enterprises in their mission to transform the future of communities in Liverpool and Sefton but we need the support of depositors to do that.  The Bond offers savers a safe, secure and transparent way to support their local community without having to give their money away.

“It’s a great alternative for those who, in this economic climate, might be struggling to sustain their support for charity, because we can use their savings to fund these vital projects, and then they can get their money back when they want it.  And unlike a donation which once spent, is gone, we can lend the money out again and again while it remains with us.”

Part of the Charities Aid Foundation family, Charity Bank started life in 2002 and its balance sheet is now approaching £60 million. It has committed nearly £100 million to a range of community activities including sustainable development, health and social care and education and training projects.

Individuals or organisations interested in finding out more details about the Bond or loan service can visit www.charitybank.org/liverpool or contact Charity Bank’s North West-based Regional Director, Simon Thorrington at sthorrington@charitybank.org.  Alternatively ring 01732 774040 or email enquiries@charitybank.org.
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26 June 2009
Help Young People’s Project win a National Lottery Award
By chris @ 16:22 :: 1210 Views :: :: News Items, Press Release

Help Young People’s Project win a National Lottery Award

 
Young People’s Project (YPP), a Charity Bank borrower, is competing for a National Lottery Award and a £2,000 prize.  They’re running against nine other projects in the Best Education Project category, and they need your votes.

YPP works with young people and young parents with a mission to enable them to reach their potential. The YPP had already received funding for three years from the lottery in addition to a loan from Charity Bank to provide a permanent base for their project.

Achievements over the three years include: 
  • Developing from a small team of 6 workers to a team of 35
  • Increasing the running of its services from 3 days to 6 days a week 
  • Starting a whole new team of volunteers with the training of young people to be ‘peer educators’ to run sex and relationship lessons in the community
  • Training of young people to volunteer in the community
  • Many of its young people winning national awards for their achievements
  • Running healthy eating sessions and setting up a café and catering company.
  • Running and developing parenting training sessions
  • Developing a new accreditation – leading to 21 accredited courses.
  • And lots of amazing stories of young people’s lives changing through volunteering, starting work and college.   We have seen so many changes and so many developments and we are keen to have recognition for the hard work and determination of many young people.

Because young people work and volunteer with YPP, so young people’s views are at the heart of all our activities.

To support us simply:
  • Visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards,
  • Click on the Best Education Project category.
  • Locate the healthy lifestyles from the Young Peoples Project
  • Click on the link at the bottom of the page
  • Then click on VOTE NOW!

Alternatively you can call 0844 686 8465 to register your phone vote.  Every vote counts, so we really appreciate your support.

Voting begins on 22nd June and ends on 10th July 2009. The votes will be counted and those with the most votes will be entered into the final, where public vote will decide the winner on national TV.
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19 June 2009
Charity Bank appoints director for Wales
By Hawkers @ 09:18 :: 1045 Views :: :: News Items, Press Release

Charity Bank appoints director for Wales

The Charity Bank has appointed its first ever regional director for Wales.

The bank, which was established in 2002, is being headed in Wales by Cardiff-based Ian Courtney.
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