As an independent regional building society, we believe our responsibility to the local community extends beyond providing a range of financial products and services. Last year, we donated over £100,000 to support local community, educational and charitable initiatives, including:

REACT Science & Engineering Shows

2,000 children from West Cumbrian schools attended a series of live demonstrations performed by the Science Museum’s Outreach Team. The interactive shows were designed to demonstrate the effects of forces in everyday life and stimulate children’s interest in science and engineering.

Cumbria Farmer Network – Farmer Groups and Demonstration Days

The Society’s financial support has enabled the Cumbria Farmer Network to organise a series of demonstrations designed to promote sustainable practices and new ideas.

Eden Rivers Trust ‘River Days’

Eden Rivers Trust was set up in 1996 to help conserve, protect and improve the River Eden and its tributaries. ‘River Days’ are practical demonstrations designed to help children learn about rivers and develop an interest in looking after the environment. Around 1,000 children per year will benefit from the Society’s support.

Annandale & Eskdale Sports Academy

Two weeks of multi-sport coaching and competitions benefiting approximately 2,500 children throughout Annandale and Eskdale.

Mary Wakefield Westmorland Festival

Over 4,000 people attended this event which promoted an ongoing interest in music, particularly among young people.

Cumbrian Schools Book Award

An annual book award, which is designed to create enthusiasm and excitement about books and encourage primary school children to read for pleasure.

The Cumberland provided funding for more than 150 community projects in 2008-09 ranging from a ‘friendly bench’ for a local primary school to learning resources for an over-50s ‘evergreen’ club.

The Society also committed to a three-year sponsorship agreement with Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake as part of its 10th anniversary year.

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)

The Society has pledged to donate £5 to BTCV for each current account where a customer agrees to stop receiving monthly paper statements and use the internet banking ‘eStatement’ facility. BTCV is using the donations to support local environmental initiatives. This is an on-going programme and the Society has handed over £17,000 since November 2007.

Pledge for Votes

The Society’s ‘Pledge for Votes’ scheme is designed to encourage members to vote at our Annual General Meeting by linking a donation to local charities to the number of votes received. Thanks to your support, the 2009 ‘Pledge for Votes’ scheme raised £11,475 for Barnardo’s.

The Charitable Foundation

We also support local charities through an annual donation to the Cumberland Building Society Charitable Foundation. Last year, the Foundation donated more than £31,000 to 81 local projects. These included North Copeland Youth Partnership, Tarleton ‘Over 60s club’, Eden Voluntary Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted, and Quarriers ‘Break-away’ Befriending Project, based in Dumfries, which supports children and young people with disabilities.

If you support a charity which you would like to be considered for a donation, please write to: The Secretary, Cumberland Building Society Charitable Foundation, Cumberland House, Castle Street, Carlisle, CA3 8RX.

Our Staff

We encourage our staff to be active members of the local community and supported them in a number of fundraising initiatives throughout the year, including:

The Carlisle Santa Dash

35 Cumberland staff completed the 4km fun run in December 2008 all dressed as Father Christmas. The would-be Santas managed to run off a few mince pies and raise approximately £1,800 for Eden Valley Hospice.

Race for Life

20 employees completed the 2008 Race for Life raising £1,200 for Cancer Research UK.

All Cumberland staff are also encouraged to undertake voluntary work in their community by taking one ‘community day’ as paid leave each year.