Complex case and bridging finance specialist Market Harborough Building Society has committed £1 million to local good causes that matter most to its customers and communities over the past three years.
Funding has already delivered alongside further investment currently held within the Society’s Charitable Foundation to support future impact.
The company said that the funding milestone reflects more than the scale of the society’s giving but also demonstrates how its Thrive! agenda has evolved into a defining part of how it operates as a mutual lender.
What investment makes possible for the communities it serves
Iain Kirkpatrick, chief executive of Market Harborough Building Society, said: “Reaching £1 million is something we are incredibly proud of, but it is not about the number. It is about what that investment makes possible for the people and communities we serve.
“As a mutual, our success is shared. Every savings account, every mortgage and every decision we make feeds back into helping our customers and communities thrive.”
The society’s Thrive! agenda was designed three years ago. In January 2023, the Society made a £100,000 donation to local foodbanks across its heartland, supporting families affected by the rising cost of living.
This responded to immediate need but also marked the start of a broader commitment to strength communities and build long-term resilience, the company says.
Supporting young people
Its most recent initiative, Thrive! Forward, forms a central part of its approach to supporting young people, with the programme focusing on financial resilience, mental wellbeing and employability skills and currently supporting more than 1,300 young people.
Alongside Thrive! Forward, investment has been directed towards practical, everyday community needs that support local economies. This includes assistance for families facing cost-of-living pressures, restoring access to essential banking services through the introduction of the OneBanx machine in Market Harborough following high street bank closures, opening up the Society’s head office as a community hub, and backing grassroots organisations through partnership with the Leicester & Rutland Community Foundation.
