Over the last 10 years Danske Bank staff and customers have raised over £1.2 million for five local charities with current partner, Age NI receiving over £45,000 this year. The partnership has seen staff from across the Bank fundraise, volunteer and provide mentoring support for the leading older people’s charity.
Siobhan Casey, Director of Marketing at Age NI said, “We would like to say a big thank you to Danske Bank, its staff and customers who have organised, participated in and donated to numerous fundraising events throughout the year.
“Due to continuing support from Danske Bank we’ve been able to support 38,200 older people in Northern Ireland. The partnership has helped raise awareness of our services and in the last year alone we have distributed 23,000 Age NI advice cards and pens through Danske Bank branches resulting in a10% increase in calls to our advice service.
“In the last year, we have also worked with Danske Bank to deliver 32 in-branch ‘Step by Step’ sessions to 3,200 older people. Step-by-Step is a programme to support older people to feel more comfortable about new banking channels by guiding customers through a variety of banking options for instance ATMs and online banking. We’ve also developed a joint guide bringing together vital information from banking to benefits that will assist older people. This guide has been circulated to 10,000 people and is also available in Danske Bank branches.
“We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with Danske Bank in 2015 and will work together on a range of activities that will help to further improve the lives of people in later life. Money raised in 2015 will help Age NI deliver and improve upon its vital services including a free Advice Line, care services in the community and support for local older people’s networks.”
Danske Bank’s Managing Director of Personal Banking, Tony Wilcox, undertook a personal cycle challenge covering over 300 miles to raise funds for the charity. He said, ‘”Our employees from head office and branches right across Northern Ireland have been tremendous in their support for Age NI and came up with all sorts of personal and team fundraising events to raise money, from Winter Warmer coffee mornings, to members of staff taking part in marathons, trekking and firewalking, to name just a few. As we come to the end of 2014 we would like to thank all our customers for their support and generosity over the past year.
“We too are delighted to be working with Age NI again in 2015 and look forward to building on the success of 2014.”
