15 January 2010

The Santander Foundation brings together the charitable donations formerly made in the UK by Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley savings business. Through the Foundation funding is available to registered charities that work in the areas of Education and Training and Financial Capability.

The Foundation will make grants to buy tangible items such as equipment or training materials. Grants are also available to fund project costs such as sessional worker fees, salaries, room hire or other costs incurred in the delivery of the charitable priorities. There are two levels of grants available. Grants of £10,000 are available in areas where there is a Santander or Alliance & Leicester branch. In nine areas where Santander has a significant presence they have established Community Partnership Groups. These are made up of existing staff, pensioners and a local infrastructure charity such as a community foundation or Council for Voluntary Services. Grants of up to £30,000 are available in the in those areas. Applications can be submitted at any time. In addition, Santander has launched a scheme to donate £250,000 to local charities across the country. The bank is asking its customers in the UK to vote for the local charities they think should receive funding to mark the rebranding of Abbey and Bradford & Bingley to Santander. Each of the 1,000 branches will be allocated part of the Community Chest Fund and asked to nominate three local causes, which will be voted for by customers visiting braches of the bank between 11 January and 26 February.

For more information on what they fund and how to apply see the Santander Foundation website.

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