TLC in the community, community work

We encourage all branches and departments to work closely with small community groups within their local area.

Community partners

By using our skills, time and a range of practical charity support resources, we help our community partners achieve their goals and play a big part within the areas we operate.

Our local partners vary, but typically include small charities, local Age UK branches, schools and small community groups.

Examples of active community partnerships are detailed below as an indication of how these unique relationships work.

Lyng Hall School

Head office teams based at Oakfield House in Binley work in partnership with Lyng Hall School in Coventry. A host of staff provide the following regular ongoing support to the school:

• Delivery of interactive sessions in Personal Finance Education, working with a variety of groups such as 6th form students, Foundation classes, BTEC Business and Finance students as well as A Level accounting students.
• In order to reach beyond the school, we facilitated an innovative relationship with the Citizens Advice Bureau. As a consequence, two Associate Teachers have become fully trained Citizens Advice Bureau advisors. We have also paid for a Citizens Advice Bureau information kiosk to be installed in the school foyer.
• Our Head of Security advises their Security committee at their quarterly meetings
• Providing 'Making the Most of Your Money' sessions in partnership with Aviva to teachers, support staff and parents
• Providing a reward scheme to students through our partnership with the Coventry Blaze ice hockey team
• Supporting the schools Sports Leaders qualification through our relationship with the Coventry Blaze
• Providing professional coaching for teachers

MIND, Coventry

Since 2008, the High Street branch team has played a significant role in supporting the local arm of MIND. They regularly provide the following support:

• Volunteering at the day centre to support drop in sessions, befriending people and helping them back into community life. All staff attended a training day to help develop the knowledge and skills needed to assist people with mental health issues
• MIND also have a charity shop at which our staff regularly volunteer, helping with tasks such as manning the till and pressing clothes
• Working with centre visitors to tend to the MIND allotment
• Provide staff to help run the information centre
• Running book sales and raffles in the branch

Smilers Club

The Smilers Club provides activities for children and adults who are physically or learning disabled and live in the Stourbridge, Cradley Heath and Halesowen area.

The Community Champion at Merry Hill branch attends Committee meetings of the charity to find out how we can help and the branch staff have been involved in everything from car boot sales and Christmas Fairs to DJing at the weekly discos and helping out at the annual trip to Butlins.

The branch Community Champion also encouraged the charity to apply to the Coventry Building Society Charitable Foundation which went on to donate £1,500 towards a riverboat trip.

Forest Green Rovers FC

In July 2010 we announced a two-year deal to become shirt sponsors of Forest Green Rovers Football Club, based in Nailsworth, near Stroud.

Founded in 1890, Forest Green Rovers currently play in the Blue Square Premier League, the top division of the Football Conference.

We're delighted to be involved with a true family club with strong roots in the local community. For many years, Stroud and Swindon Building Society was a strong supporter of Forest Green Rovers and following our merger in September 2010, we're keen to continue to develop the role we play in the communities in which we operate.

Coventry City Football Club

We are the official mortgage and savings provider of Coventry City Football Club. Our relationship gives fans a unique way of supporting their favourite football club while saving with the Coventry.

We pay CCFC up to 1% of the total value of deposits made by their supporters in our 'Sky Blues Saver' range of accounts, while the Club offers account holders a range of exclusive offers and 'money can’t buy' opportunities.

CCFC holds a prominent place in the life of Coventry and is important to many people in the city. Under the partnership, the Club is helping to support other community work we do in the Coventry area.