Employees at the Society's head office on Bartholomew Street have donated warm clothing, sleeping bags, non-perishable food items and flasks for homeless people living in West Berkshire through their partnership with Newbury Soup Kitchen (registered charity number: 1179298).
Newbury Soup Kitchen support homeless and vulnerable people throughout West Berkshire, providing services such as hot meals, haircuts, vaccinations, and chiropody appointments, as well as a friendly face to talk to.
They recently became the new charity partner of head office, meaning employees based there will support the charity through a variety of fundraising activities and initiatives for the next 3-5 years. The charity was chosen by an employee vote and savers who open the Society’s charity account will now be able to select to support the Soup Kitchen.
The ‘Cold Weather Collection’ was the Society’s first initiative in support of Newbury Soup Kitchen, and the donations were dropped to their Newbury HK by Chief Executive, Phillippa Cardno, and members of the Marketing team.
Mollie Maclean, Digital Marketing Assistant, who organised the project, commented:
“Newbury Soup Kitchen are a pillar in our community, working tirelessly to support vulnerable and homeless people in the local area. Our Cold Weather Collection campaign, which is our first initiative for the charity, will help vulnerable people throughout the winter.
As always, we’ve received an overwhelming amount of donations from colleagues at the Society which we are very grateful for – it is lovely to know that Meryl and her team will be able to distribute these items to the people who need them most in time for Christmas.”
Newbury Soup Kitchen CEO, Meryl Praill, was delighted with the donations. She said:
“Our approach revolves around catering to the whole person, addressing their physical, emotional, and social needs. We invest considerable time with individuals, offering support, encouragement, and empathy to help them realize their full potential in every aspect of life. We believe that through these conversations, we can empower vulnerable individuals, giving them back their voices, and assisting them in making positive life decisions that will improve their situations and futures.
Newbury Building Society’s generous donation allows us to continue providing our essential services, offering a helping hand to those in need. Today, the importance of aiding those isolated by poverty, mental health challenges, and addiction cannot be overstated. By providing a home, security, safety, and kindness, we strive to help individuals reintegrate into society and break the cycle of hardship.
Once again, we thank the Society wholeheartedly for their support. Together, we can continue to make a positive difference in the lives of those in need and build a more compassionate and supportive community for everyone.”
Learn more
Each of our branches are also partnered with a local charity. Find out more about the scheme here.
