![A group of colleagues dressed for the winter following tree planting in the local community.](https://www.hrbs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/treeplanting.png)
At the Society, we are committed to supporting our communities in a variety of ways, whether through our Community Foundation, monetary donations, supporting financial education, charity fundraising, sponsorships, volunteering time, or allowing members to support causes through our Affinity Savings accounts.
Our Community First scheme provides staff with three days paid leave to support community organisations and has resulted in strong, long-lasting relationships with community groups, schools, and charities.
Our culture of sharing has been engrained in our colleagues and we actively seek out projects to share our time, skills, and resources. We exemplified this by partnering with Leicestershire Cares in 2012, a charity that connects local businesses with community groups in need of help, and our day-to-day giving has grown since.
![Colleagues volunteering at Feed the Need during 2022.](https://www.hrbs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Ukrainian-support-Feed-the-Need-May-22-1024x768.jpg)
Community Foundation
Working in partnership with the Leicestershire & Rutland Community Foundation, the Society’s Community Foundation presents the perfect opportunity to reinvest our profits back into our communities by supporting various charities across Leicestershire and Warwickshire. Our foundation gives local charities the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £5,000.
Community Sponsorship Scheme
The Society has been supporting its local communities for decades. Our new Community Sponsorship Scheme will help us build on our long-standing support of our local communities. This Scheme aims to encourage small local charities, community groups and causes to apply for donations of up to £700, together with the potential for practical support with promotion and volunteering.
![Children playing football.](https://www.hrbs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Community-Sponsorship-Scheme-News-Post-1024x576.png)
![](https://www.hrbs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/communityicon020523.png)
Interested in receiving support?
Like many mutual societies, we receive requests for support in the form of time, skills and resources. If you would like the Society to consider supporting your charity or organisation, get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
Leicestershire Cares
Our partnership with Leicestershire Cares began in 2012 and our colleagues have regularly taken part in a number of different projects over the years. This has ranged from financial education in primary schools, educational reading at secondary schools, interview techniques sessions, etc.
In addition to our regular volunteering, we periodically gather staff for Leicestershire Cares Team Challenges to assist charities and community groups with major projects they would otherwise struggle to fund or undertake.
![Colleague volunteering for Leicestershire Cares conducting financial education.](https://www.hrbs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Tracey-Yes-project-budgeting-etc-April-2022-pic-3-.jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![Colleagues volunteering at Hinckley Family and Childrens wellness centre.](https://www.hrbs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Hinckley-Family-and-Childrens-wellness-centre-team-challenge-Sept-22-day-2-1024x768.jpg)
Volunteering
Our colleagues are all encouraged to take time out of their working day to share their skills and time. Last year we spent over 1,200 hours volunteering.
Many choose to do so through our ongoing partnership with Leicestershire Cares, or in one-off team challenges, or weekly commitments. In the past this has been litter picking in local towns, individuals making PPE equipment for the NHS, and volunteers lending at hand at local foodbanks.
Fraud awareness
We strive to ensure that our member’s information is kept safe and secure through up-to-date computer systems and continual monitoring.
With online scams increasing year on year, it is key to be able to recognise and prevent fraud, by being vigilant when receiving requests from third parties.
![Man holding his son and working with laptop at home](https://www.hrbs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/iStock-1215721280-Help-and-Support--1024x683.jpg)
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