Nearly £150,000 has been paid out to almost 660 awards for charities and local community groups in North and East Scotland since The Royal Bank of Scotland Group launched its Community Cashback Scheme in June last year.

In this way, over £1 million has been injected into local community groups and charities across the UK in the last year. The scheme, which encourages staff to volunteer and fundraise in their own communities, has been so successful that the cash awards have been increased. Now staff who fundraise or regularly volunteer can apply for an award of up to £1000. This increase coincides with Volunteers’ Week which aims to recruit thousands of new volunteers across the UK.

Typically, the awards range from £100 to £1000, depending on how staff are helping or the amount of money they have raised. Their involvement could take the form of regularly volunteering as a youth worker, cycling the Great Wall of China to fundraise for charity, to undertaking a one-off community project such as creating a garden for a hospice.

Brian Brodie, Regional Managing Director for North and East Scotland, The Royal Bank of Scotland said, "We are delighted that the Community Cashback Awards have been so successful with our staff and that we have been able to increase the awards. It’s fantastic that so many good causes supported by our employees are benefiting from the Bank’s backing. In doing so, we recognise the huge contribution volunteers make to our local communities and hope to encourage more staff to volunteer."

Christopher Spence MBE, Chief Executive, of the National Centre for Volunteering, said, "The National Centre for Volunteering is very appreciative of the work that the Royal Bank Group does to recognise and encourage volunteers amongst their employees. Their Community Cashback Awards scheme should act as an example of what private sector companies can do to encourage staff to get involved in their own communities thereby benefiting everyone."

1. Case studies are available on request.
2. The Community Cashback Awards scheme is open to all permanent staff of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group based in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Gibraltar.
3. Awards are made to charitable organisations, including schools and community groups based in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar.
4. The following are examples of awards given:-

• a regular volunteer such as a youth worker or helper used to receive £100 and now receives £250
• £250 is awarded where a member of staff plays an ongoing role in the leadership, management or governance of the community group such as a trustee or treasurer.
• An individual member of staff who has raised between £100 and £249 receives £100 for their nominated charity.
• A individual member of staff who has raised over £500 will receive £500 – this is a new award for their nominated charity.
• A team of staff who raise over £1000 will receive £1000 – this is a new award for their nominated charity.
• £500 is given where 5 or more colleagues undertake a one-off community project such as refurbishing a playground.

Issued by: Sonya Ashworth Tel: 0131 523 4205
Assistant Manager, Media Relations