Guidelines and criteria

Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation is the focal point of Yorkshire Building Society’s charitable giving. Its purpose is to support good causes where the Society’s members and staff live and work, helping to demonstrate the value and support that the Yorkshire provides to local communities throughout the UK.

What areas will the foundation support?

Our priorities are to support registered charities involving anyone who is vulnerable (particularly the elderly, children or those with special needs) or people suffering hardship. However, we will consider other local charities and good causes suggested by Society members or staff.

The Foundation’s support is limited to the UK and we assist with specific tangible items rather than donating to general funds or expenses. We would like to help as many charities and causes as possible and have a maximum donation – currently £2,000 - although the emphasis is on smaller donations.  In considering requests we may need to ask for additional information from the applicant or from third parties eg, references and for evidence as to how our support has benefited recipients.

The following (non-exhaustive) list provides examples of projects or activities likely to fall within our main areas of focus and that the Foundation would consider providing a donation to purchase specific items for:

• Anything specifically to help priority cases of vulnerable people/those in need - such as children, the elderly, or anyone with special needs, or people who are suffering hardship.
• Help for people that are sick, have learning difficulties or who are physically disabled.
• Provision towards the welfare of sick and neglected animals and the prevention of cruelty to animals.
• Provision of, or support for, services used by sectors of the community e.g. community centres, specially adapted buses and other vehicles.  (This may extend to the provision of equipment for youth clubs or clubs catering for the elderly or disabled).
• The resettlement and rehabilitation of offenders and drug abusers eg, via provision of specific items for the organisations who support these groups.
• The provision of relief for victims of natural and civil disasters in the UK.
• Requests for help for individuals via a registered charity eg, through the provision of mobility equipment for a disabled child, where the charity remains the owner and responsible for the maintenance of that equipment.
• Particular geographical or social areas of benefit, or groups of people where it can be shown they are in need eg, groups of people suffering hardship, pupils at a special needs school or residents of a particular community.  The Foundation will not support causes serving only a specific sector of the community selected on the basis of ethnic, racial or religious grounds.  

What areas won't the foundation support?

We do not support any activity which is not carried out by a registered charity or which does not otherwise count as being a good cause. Additionally, there may be projects or activities that could be considered as registered charities or good causes but which do not fall within our priorities or meet other criteria. Examples of these are:

• Applications from national charitable organisations for general ongoing funding (although this would not prevent consideration of specific items for local initiatives/branches).
• Requests for administration costs, research funds or general expenses (including salaries and equipment) unless the equipment is to be used to directly benefit individuals (ie, the recipients of the charity's support, such as those with disabilities requiring special equipment for a charity).
• Requests for administration equipment such as telephones, security systems or computers, for a charity's own use.
• Overseas travel, expeditions or educational expenses, including causes that would otherwise qualify for support but require funds for activities outside the UK.
• Applications from individuals seeking financial assistance which are not received from a registered charity or similar body.
• Support of religious activities or the advancement of religion (although this would not prevent consideration for activities held by a specific group, which are open to all sectors of the community regardless of religion or beliefs).
• Fund-raising for the purposes of pursuing political or propagandist activities.
• Support of activities in or equipment for mainstream schools and other local/government funded bodies.  The only exception to this would be activities or equipment to help children with special needs.
• Provision of equipment for hospitals or other health establishments which are the responsibility of a statutory body.  Equipment to be provided by a charity or good cause supporting a hospital/establishment may be considered.
• Any fund-raising or activity which would, or could benefit the organisers directly.
• Support for a person or persons who do not fall within the priorities of the Foundation, or are not thought to be suffering hardship or in genuine need eg, Scouts/Girl Guides (unless for special needs groups).
• Events that are concerned mainly with entertaining the public eg, village fete/carnival.
• Activities raising funds for other organisations or charities eg, sponsorship of an individual taking part in a fund raising event.
• Provision of sport generally.  The only exception to this would be, for example, a sporting activity for children who are in need, or disabled people, or other people suffering hardship.
• Any organisation considered to be illegal or which may act illegally, or where funds are raised from, or for immoral purposes.

Registered Office: Yorkshire House, Yorkshire Drive, Bradford BD5 8LJ.
Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation is a registered charity.
Registered Charity Number 1069082