Community Investment
HBOS is committed to strengthening and invigorating the local communities in which we do business. Our significant community investment is delivered through three main mechanisms, the HBOS Foundation, Sponsorship and Financial Inclusion.
In July 2008, HBOS was one of the first UK companies to be awarded the Community Mark. This prestigious national standard recognises pioneering corporate investors in the community. We achieved the accreditation because of our long-term, high-level commitment to community investment that represents good practice and makes a real difference to the community. For more information on the Community Mark, click here.
1. HBOS Foundation
- In 2007, the Foundation donated almost £11m to charity, including contributions raised by colleagues and customers.
- During the year, HBOS colleagues raised almost £6m for a wide range of charities via our matched funding scheme. This includes over £3.6m for the Million £ Challenge charities; the British Heart Foundation, WRVS, Family Holiday Association, RNLI and Age Action, and £2.1m for a wide range of other charities.
- Through the Foundation's grant giving programme over 400 organisations received grants worth over £4m.
- A wide range of charities across the UK also received support in kind through colleague volunteering. Over 10,000 colleagues volunteered in 2007. £21.3m has been raised via the Foundation, through volunteering, in the last five years.
HBOS donates £8 million a year to the HBOS Foundation, an independent charity created in May 2002. The Foundation invests in local communities across the UK, with particular focus on Scotland and Yorkshire - our main heartlands, and drives volunteering and charitable work for the Group. The HBOS Foundation is now one of the largest corporate fundraisers in the UK.
2. HBOS Group Sponsorship
HBOS's award-winning programme of sponsorship invests £4 million in sport and the arts in Scotland and Yorkshire each year.
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During 2007, over 75,000 young people took part in sports and arts events made possible with support from HBOS.
An estimated 65% of these young people were from areas of social disadvantage. Bank of Scotland's Community Football is the most comprehensive grassroots football programme in Scotland. The Midnight League aims to keep young people off the streets and reduce crime levels. It was expanded in 2007 into all 32 Scottish Local Authorities, reaching over 10,000 young people.
3. Financial Inclusion
- HBOS is committed to increasing financial inclusion in the UK. Financial exclusion means not having access to the basic financial services most people in the UK take for granted.
- HBOS is a market leader in social banking, and is the only bank to publish a target 15% - for new social banking accounts. We exceeded this target in 2007 with a 19.3% share of new accounts.
- Halifax is the only financial institution piloting the Savings Gateway with HM Treasury. Over 23,000 accounts have been opened.
- HBOS committed £4.5bn in lending to registered social landlords at the end of 2007.
- HBOS has installed 100 new fee free ATMs in deprived communities in Scotland and the North of England.
