Bank of Scotland asks customers to dig deep for charity

Tuesday 23rd October 2007

Bank of Scotland is holding its first ever "Giving Xtra Day" on 25th October 2007, giving customers the opportunity to join in a host of activities in order to raise money for charity.

Customers are invited to pop into their local branch to take part in the fundraising activity, which Bank of Scotland hopes will raise more than £500,000 for the British Heart Foundation, WRVS and the Family Holiday Association in partnership with RNLI, through the HBOS Foundation's Million £ Challenge. The HBOS Foundation will match all donations pound for pound and distribute proceeds equally between the three charities.

Some of the fundraising activities:

• Limited Edition Bears - Each branch will have a limited number of bears to sell on Giving Xtra Day. If every bear is sold to a good home, this activity alone will raise just under £200,000. The bears cost £4.95 which means that, together with a £ to £ matching from the HBOS Foundation, almost £10 has been given to the Million £ Challenge for every bear sold.
• Raffle Tickets* - Local branches are already selling raffle tickets for a grand prize draw on 30th November. The fantastic prizes on offer include a flat screen TV, home entertainment system, Nintendo Wii and lots more. Tickets are available at just £1 each.
• Guess the Number of Balloons - Each branch will display a poster covered with balloons. Customers are invited to pay £1 to guess how many balloons are on the poster and the customer with the nearest guess in each branch will win a portable CD player. Guesses must be made using the entry form between 9am and 5pm on Giving Xtra Day.

Charities which will benefit:

• British Heart Foundation - The money raised will help fund eight new BHF Heart Nurses - that's an extra 40,000 nursing hours. They will visit patients at home and help put patients on a speedier road to recovery.
• WRVS - The money raised will be used to help WRVS's work which helps over 180,000 elderly and disabled people by providing home visits, meals on wheels, home library services and access to lunch clubs, social clubs and community transport.
• Family Holiday Association in partnership with RNLI -The money raised will help promote the quality of family life to those parents and children who are disadvantaged as a result of poverty. It will also fund partnership activities with its charity partner RNLI.

Angela Tinker, head of the HBOS Foundation said: "This is the first time we have encouraged Bank of Scotland and Halifax customers to get involved with the Million £ Challenge. Giving Xtra Day is a great way for customers and colleagues to join forces and support three very deserving charities."

Notes to Editors

*GB Raffle tickets are not available in Northern Ireland

**The total proceeds from the Giving Xtra Day will be matched up to a limit of £250,000

All costs have been supported by HBOS plc and the HBOS Foundation will ensure all proceeds will directly benefit the three charities.

The HBOS Foundation operates as an independent company and works with charitable and not-for-profit organisations across the UK, supporting people and their local communities.  The Foundation's community giving is focused on two guiding themes; money advice and financial literacy and developing and improving communities. 

The Foundation's income comes from a variety of sources through HBOS plc.  In 2006 HBOS plc increased the total support it commits to the Foundation to £8m p.a., for its work to support community projects and charities.  In addition to its direct contribution, HBOS plc pays all the overheads, including staff costs, for the Foundation. This indirect contribution will continue to increase as a result of the recruitment of a number of additional staff to manage the Foundation's increased budget.  Million £ Challenge charities are voted for by HBOS colleagues – this year they chose the British Heart Foundation to benefit from £1m, with anything over that being divided between the BHF, the WRVS and the Family Holiday Association in partnership with the RNLI.

The HBOS Foundation is a registered charity No.SCO32942.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the UK's largest independent funder of heart research, educating as well as providing life-saving equipment and support for rehabilitation and patient care.  BHF is responding to a shortage of post-surgery after-care by developing a network of dedicated Heart Nurses (based on the successful Macmillan Nurses model).  Support from the Million £ Challenge will specifically fund eight new BHF Heart Nurses - that's an extra 40,000 nursing hours.

The WRVS is one of the UK's largest voluntary providers of community services. It works to help over 180,000 elderly and disabled people by providing home visits, meals on wheels, home library services and access to lunch clubs, social clubs and community transport schemes.  More than 60,000 volunteers are involved, many using their own cars to take vulnerable, housebound people shopping or to medical appointments and clubs.  Support from the Million £ Challenge will set up additional community transport schemes.

The Family Holiday Association (FHA) in partnership with RNLI, works to promote the quality of family life to those parents and children who are disadvantaged as a result of poverty.  It is the only national charity funding breaks for children on the poverty line.  Meanwhile, the charity's partner, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) provides a 24-hour lifesaving service throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland.   Since 1824 its lifeboats have saved more than 137,000 lives.