Community

Staff involvement
Northern Rock staff have always been active and enthusiastic fund raisers but motivation has been increased since the establishment of The Northern Rock Foundation as the Foundation will match every penny raised for or donated to a UK registered charity.

Alistair Balls, the Chairman of Northern Rock's Foundation's Trustees has stated; "Although it is often The Foundation's big grants to organisations in the North East that make the headlines, our staff matched giving scheme is an important part of what we do. The plc's success is based on the hard work of its employees which, in turn, means more money for The Foundation to give out in grants to good causes each year."

Further information regarding the level of staff giving can be found on The Northern Rock Foundation site.

Northern Rock Charity Committee
Northern Rock and their staff are active in raising considerable sums for the chosen Corporate charity. All funds raised are matched via the Northern Rock Foundation Scheme. Staff are invited to vote for the nominated charity every year, which will be the recipient of all funds raised.

The Corporate Charity for 2005 , selected by our staff was Macmillan Cancer Relief A UK charity that works to improve the quality of life for people living with cancer.

During the year the Charity Committee have worked with staff to organise a huge range of fundraising events that include:

  • The Fashion Show

    The successful formula established in previous years of fashion and entertainment combined with a theme linked to the charity, continued in 2005.

    The event, to benefit Positively Pink and Macmillan nurses jointly, had a GREASE film theme featuring the Pink Ladies. Debenhams supplied the clothes and its personal shopping team to make it happen. Hair was by Regis and make-up by Chanel.

    Eleven models were from Positively Pink who have all had breast cancer, as well as three Northern Rock women whose close families have been affected.

    The evening event raised a total of £19,949.78 for Macmillan Nurses and Positively Pink.

  • Northern Rock Charity Golf Day

    Slaley Hall in Northumberland was the venue for the 2005, charity golf day. Three Northern Rock teams were among a field of 32, made up of key suppliers, business partners, and a Durham County Cricket Club team. The event receives huge support among our business partners and companies who also sponsor the event. The first prize, won by Data Storage Hardware Company EMC, was a trip to Lytham St Anne’s to play the British Open Course and an Odessey putter.

    The event raised £47,000 for a variety of charities, and over the seven years the event has been running over £280,000 has been raised for charity

  • Rock Idol

    Following the success of the first Rock Idol, a further event was held in 2005 at Shearers bar in St James' Park and raised over £3,000. There were some very impressive vocal displays and all those who enjoyed the event.

  • The Summer Ball

    The 2005 Summer Ball had a Caribbean theme, and was held at South Northumberland Cricket Club. A Caribbean band played on what was a hot summer night and the popular event raised £2,000 for charity.

  • Breast Cancer Awareness Day

    Staff who took part in “PINK” day raised a total of £2,803.

    In total during 2005 Northern Rock staff over £250,000 for Macmillan Cancer Relief after most fundraising was matched under the terms of the agreement with The Northern Rock Foundation.

As well as the corporate charity a number of other fundraising events were organised:

Tsunami Fundraising Day The highest amount of money ever raised on one day by Northern Rock staff was recorded on 28 January, 2005, which was Tsunami Fundraising Day.

In an unprecedented charity effort by staff, events included; a sponsored walk. Staff football match, leg-waxing, food stalls and an eclectic mix of staff pledges. As a result £14,358.93 was raised on the day.

North East Motor Neurone Disease Trust
The North East Motor Neurone Disease Trust was set up in February 2005 and quickly became the first in the country to offer a walk-in centre, based in Kenton, Newcastle for sufferers and their families.

Ten staff abseiled down the Malmaison Hotel in Newcastle in July 2005 and raised over £2,000 for the charity to help with the provision of mobility aids, transport to and from the centre and complementary therapies and acupuncture.

  • £1,933 from a sponsored sailing race between Portsmouth and Blyth to help raise money for the Pain Relief Foundation
  • £510 raised at Mortgage Expo North, Manchester, which has been donated to Northern Rock’s charity of the year Macmillan Cancer Relief.

The Northern Rock Charity for 2006 is Tiny Lives

In addition to pure fundraising staff also give their time to:

Leonard Cheshire
Northern Rock though a link with Calvert Trust organise an annual weekend at Kielder centre, for residents of a local Leonard Cheshire home. Northern Rock staff provide support for disabled people to participate in a range of outdoor activities, including:

  • Sailing
  • Canoeing
  • Absailing
  • Zip winding
  • Archery

"The Kielder Challenge" has been an annual event for 9 years. Northern Rock staff attend a one day training course provided by the Calvert Trust, prior to the fun packed 3 day weekend event. Northern Rock provide all the staff with the paid leave from work and the staff voluntarily give up their own weekend.

Due to the continuing success of the event Northern Rock has also supported the event during 2005.

Leonard Cheshire is the leading charity provider of services for disabled people in the UK and operates in 57 countries across the world. In the UK, Leonard Cheshire works with thousands of disabled people, helping them to live independently, whether that means a few hours of care at home, or more intensive support at one of their residential and nursing homes.

It also provides independent and supported living, respite care and day services and are developing cutting-edge services for people with an acquired brain injury.

The Workability scheme is giving younger disabled people the computer equipment and skills they need to find a job.

© Northern Rock plc. 2008