Foundation making a real difference to people’s lives

Matthew Young (right), Lloyds Banking Groups Corporate Affairs Director, visited Belfast to see how charitable donations from the bank are used to benefit disadvantaged groups in Northern Ireland. He is pictured with representatives from Lloyds TSB Foundation Northern Ireland: Chairman Tony Reynolds, board member Janet Leckey from Whiteabbey and Executive Director Sandara Kelso-Robb from Straid. INNT 29-503CON

Two Newtownabbey women have shown one of Lloyds Bank’s senior executives how charitable donations from the bank are used to benefit disadvantaged groups in Northern Ireland.

Matthew Young, Lloyds Banking Group’s Corporate Affairs Director, heard how the bank’s £1.8 million contribution last year was used to support 533 community and voluntary projects through the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Northern Ireland.

Lloyds TSB Foundation Executive Director Sandara Kelso-Robb from Straid and Board Member Janet Leckey from Whiteabbey explained the work of the Foundation to Mr Young.

The Foundation, which is independent from the bank, has supported almost 6,000 local charities across Northern Ireland over the past 25 years to the tune of £27 million with its six grant programmes.

While in Northern Ireland, Mr Young met with a range of organisations that have benefited from the Foundation’s grants.

Sandara Kelso-Robb, Executive Director of the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Northern Ireland, said: “The grant programme assists grassroots charities and organisations to reach out and help meet the needs of the most disadvantaged in society. This was Matthew Young’s first visit to Northern Ireland and we were delighted to be able to show him some of the excellent projects that have benefited from the funding provided by the bank.”

Mr Young, who joined Lloyds Banking Group in 2011, said: “It is only by coming to see the great work that Lloyds TSB Foundation for Northern Ireland has helped to fund on the ground can you appreciate the impact it is having on so many lives. The bank is very proud of its association with the Foundation and the work it does with grassroots charities.”