Yorkshire Bank to Recognise Community Spirit in England

26th May 2015

Yorkshire Bank has selected twelve community groups from across England as the winners in its Spirit of the Community Awards 2015.

Now in its third year, the awards programme aims to recognise charities and not-for-profit organisations for the invaluable contribution they make to their local communities.

The successful recipients will share a funding boost of £75,000 to make a real difference in their local areas. The individual amounts each organisation is set to receive will be unveiled on 25th June at a ceremony at the Bank’s Head Office in Leeds.

Organisations from across the third sector who could demonstrate their support for the local community were eligible to enter the awards under one of three categories; financial education, employability and environment. The Yorkshire Bank Spirit of the Community Awards 2015 winners are:

Financial Education category

• Cumbrian Youth Alliance
• Debt Advice Foundation
• Tees Valley Women’s Centre Ltd
• The Money Charity

Employability category

• Changing Lives
• Empower Employability Mentoring Programme
• Prince’s Trust
• St George’s Crypt

Environment category

• Bradford Environmental Action Trust
• Durham Wildlife Trust
• Friends of Stanley Park and Salisbury Woodland
• Middlesbrough Environment City Trust Ltd

There will be an overall winning group in each of the three categories which will secure £10,000 of funding, along with three highly commended that will each be awarded £5,000.

Debbie Crosbie, Acting CEO of Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks and Chair of Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank Foundation, said: “Yorkshire Bank’s Spirit of the Community Awards aim to recognise and support the vital contribution that voluntary and charitable organisations make to their local communities.

“It’s inspiring to see the great work being carried out over the past few years and the difference our support can make to third sector groups. We received a record number of entries this year and are looking forward to presenting the awards to each winning group, continuing our support for local communities across England.”

Yorkshire Bank’s sister organisation, Clydesdale Bank, will also award £75,000 to local organisations as part of the programme. This brings the total funds awarded to 24 community groups up and down the country to £150,000.

For further information about Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank Foundation’s Spirit of the Community Awards visit www.ybonline.co.uk/foundation