Nationwide expands Fairer Futures strategy to deepen community impact

Last year, we embarked on a new Social Impact strategy, Nationwide Fairer Futures, to help tackle three of the biggest issues we see in society today – youth homelessness, families living in poverty, and the challenges faced by people living with dementia.

We have now expanded Nationwide Fairer Futures to partner with The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which supports the work of The Royal Marsden, a global leader in cancer research. We will fund 30 specialist research staff at The Royal Marsden over the next two years. In that time, they will work on a total of 100 clinical trials that will aim to achieve breakthroughs in cancer treatment.

Designed to maximise the impact we can have on society by building deep partnerships with four key charities, Nationwide Fairer Futures will help us mobilise all the resources and expertise we have across Nationwide so that we can be the beacon for mutual good that we want to be. And to change people’s lives for the better. 

Each year Nationwide commits one per cent of its pre-tax profits to charitable activity. Since 2007 this has amounted to over £120 million and last year alone it committed £15.5 million.

Britain’s biggest building society will now work to make a difference across generations in partnership with these four leading charities:

• Centrepoint: to support young people struggling with housing and to end youth homelessness.
• Action for Children: to tackle child poverty and support vulnerable families experiencing financial hardship.
• Dementia UK: to help families and those affected by dementia have access to specialist support.
• The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity: to help develop more effective and less aggressive treatments to tackle a disease that affects one in two of us in our lifetime.*

Debbie Crosbie, Chief Executive Officer of Nationwide said: “Nationwide is committed to improving lives and strengthening communities. Our new Fairer Futures social impact programme will support even more people who have been dealt an unfair hand."

In addition to its own spending, Nationwide employees receive up to 14 hours’ worth of paid volunteering a year, and last year paid almost £1 million to charities nominated by its colleagues. This was on top of £1 million from customer and colleague fundraising.

Seyi Obakin, CEO at Centrepoint, said: “Last year, almost 136,000 young people faced homelessness – a record high number that sadly is only increasing. This is not acceptable and that is why we want to end youth homelessness now and for the next generation of young people.  

“This is an ambitious aim and not something we can achieve alone. That is why we are so pleased to be partnering with Nationwide over the next three years. I am particularly excited by the opportunity to support almost 3,000 young people to escape homelessness and enable them to have a home where they feel safe, where they belong and where they can rebuild their lives.” 

Paul Carberry, CEO of Action for Children said: “We are delighted that Nationwide Building Society has chosen to partner with Action for Children to tackle child poverty. 4.3 million children in the UK are needlessly suffering the misery of hardship right now which can ruin childhoods and diminish life chances.

“The generous support of Nationwide Building Society will help us to reach many more vulnerable children, young people and families who desperately need our vital support. We look forward to working with Nationwide to ensure more children and young people have the safe and happy childhood they deserve.”

Dr. Hilda Hayo, Chief Admiral Nurse and CEO at Dementia UK, said: “We’re thrilled to enter this ground-breaking partnership with Nationwide, which will help us bring specialist dementia care to more people than ever through our Admiral Nurses. With the number of people living with dementia in the UK set to exceed one million in the next year, this timely partnership will be crucial as we increase our services and reach to ensure no one faces dementia alone.”

“Nationwide’s backing, network and expertise will help deliver practical and emotional support via a number of new posts, clinics and other activations which match our ambitions, and I am looking forward to working closely with them throughout the partnership.”  

Antonia Dalmahoy, Managing Director of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Nationwide Building Society. Their incredible support of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity over the next two years will help fund world-leading research at The Royal Marsden, benefiting cancer patients across the UK and around the world. 

While progress has been made in the understanding of cancer and how to treat it, more research is needed to develop more effective, personalised treatments. Nationwide's support will help to enable these breakthroughs, improving quality of life for people with cancer and giving them more time with their loved ones."

Source: *NHS