Rival Santander teams bank on winning charity store wars challenge
Santander employees from the Flyde Coast came head to head with colleagues from South Glasgow recently as they competed in a "Store Wars" fundraising challenge for the bank's charity partners Barnardo's and Age UK.
Staff from Santander's branches across Blackpool and The Lakes competed against staff from Santander's South Glasgow branches by taking over the Age UK shop in St Anne's and the Barnardo's shop in Portland Street, Troon for the day. Each team vied to see who could increase sales by the most in what has been dubbed the "Store Wars" fundraising challenge to raise as much money as possible for each charity.
The teams became sales assistants for the day and sold as many items as possible, including clothing, homeware, books, DVD's and accessories, all of which had been kindly donated by members of the public in the local area.
The teams also organised a wealth of additional fundraising activities in Santander branches across the region to raise extra money for the two charity partners, including bake sales, sponsored challenges and dress down days.
Debbie Taaffe, Santander's Regional Manager in Blackpool and The Lakes said: "It was a great day and a lot of fun coming up against our colleagues in South Glasgow. It was a really enjoyable way of raising money for our charity partners, and we were thrilled to raise a total of £6,598."
Forbes Mutch, Head of Corporate Fundraising at Barnardo's, said: "Store Wars has proven again that it is a fantastic fundraising initiative that enables teams to put their creativeness to the test to raise money for some of the most vulnerable children, young people and families in the UK."
Hannorah Lee, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Age UK, said: "We'd like to thank the teams from across Britain that took part in this year's Store Wars challenge. As well as a fun and rewarding challenge, the funds will allow us to offer vital support and companionship to older people who might otherwise have no one to turn to."
Store Wars, which took place throughout September, has raised more than £100,000 for Barnardo's and Age UK.
Over the course of 2017, Santander is supporting a host of fundraising activities for the two charities, including the Store Wars initiative, a coast to coast cycle challenge, and an International Challenge, which will see employees travelling abroad to help build a school in Nepal.
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Stephanie Harris at Santander Email: stephanie.harris@santander.co.uk Tel: 020 7756 4221
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 30 June 2017, the bank serves around 14 million active customers with c19,500 employees and operates through 826 branches (which includes 61 university branches) and 65 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 is a national charity that works with its national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI and its local Age UK partners across England. It also works globally to support older people, especially in developing countries, through its subsidiary charity Age International.
Age UK believes that everyone should have the opportunity to make the most of later life, whatever their circumstances. It provides free information, advice and support to over six million people and carries out research and campaigns on the issues that matter most to older people. Its work focuses on ensuring older people have enough money; have good wellbeing; have access to the health and care support they need; feel safe and secure at home; and are able to make a full contribution to our society and are valued for it.
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. 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 has helped transform the lives of millions of disadvantaged children in the UK, and continues to help families to build a better future. In 2016/17 more than 272,000 children, young people, parents and carers were supported by Barnardo's through more than 1,000 services across the UK, such as young carers, care leavers, foster carers and adoptive parents, training and skills or parenting clases.
Visit www.barnardos.org.uk to find out more. Registered charity No. 216250 and SC037605