Bank of England (Northern Ireland Agency)

Overview

The Bank Of England's Community Involvement Policy in Northern Ireland. The Bank has charitable giving criteria which are largely confined to philanthropic causes such as medical research, social and moral welfare, old age and poverty, the young underprivileged and those dealing with disability.

The Northern Ireland Agency has a discretionary budget of £5,000 to be divided amongst local, registered charities that meet the Bank's criteria. The Bank's current head office policy differs, in that it focuses on supporting community involvement by staff and, as such, makes donations only to organisations in which staff are directly involved. The Bank of England aims to be a socially responsible employer through encouraging its staff to be involved in community initiatives and by recognising their involvement.

The Bank operates award schemes, under which staff can request donations to the organisations for which they volunteer, either in a personal capacity outside work or on programmes which are run by the Bank‟s Community Relations team. The Bank also makes donations, each in the region of £500, to charities nominated by staff who take part in the payroll giving scheme (to a maximum of £32,000 per annum) and will match funds raised by staff for their two designated charities of the year up to £25,000 per annum. Civic Duties and Volunteering Leave is granted to staff who undertake community action, such as being a school governor.

In implementing this policy the Bank aims:

• To provide developmental opportunities for staff;
• To contribute to building staff motivation and morale, aiding recruitment and retention of staff.
• To promote community initiatives that will contribute to the Bank's Diversity Strategy.

Example Grants

A few of the regional charities which benefited from Bank donations include:

• Northern Ireland Hospice Care
• St Vincent De Paul
• Simon Community
• Bryson House
• Action Mental Health
• Action Cancer
• Ulster Cancer Foundation
• Blind Centre for Northern Ireland
• Deaf Association of Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke