Suffolk Building Society’s charitable programme, offering support to four Suffolk charities, has been extended for an additional two years.

As a result, the total has been boosted to £200,000 over a five-year period.

The society’s charity programme was redefined in 2022 to support four charities with more than just an annual donation. The mutual pledged not only money but staff volunteering hours and fundraising events, and engagement with its 60,000 members.

The Suffolk’s 10 locations across the county are used for charity promotion, and as collection points for goods. Four promotional films for the charities, two of which were shortlisted for awards, have been viewed thousands of times on social media and YouTube.

Under its Safe Homes for Suffolk campaign the Society selected expert charity partners in homelessness, isolation, and domestic abuse: Ipswich Housing Action Group, Emmaus Suffolk, and Lighthouse Women’s Aid. For its Saving Suffolk campaign, Suffolk Wildlife Trust was chosen, and the Society was an early supporter of its new nature reserve in Martlesham.

Richard Norrington, CEO at Suffolk Building Society, said: “We were founded 175 years ago to help people acquire land and well-built homes, and in doing so, secure the vote. As well as protecting members’ savings, and supporting their home ownership ambitions, environmental and social issues remain central to our mission today.

“When we partnered with these four excellent organisations in 2022, we knew they were facing challenges accessing funding, and the cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated the situation. It therefore made sense to continue these successful partnerships for another two years, particularly given the extent to which our members and staff have engaged with the charities, whether by volunteering, attending member events, donating in branch, or by fundraising individually.”