£68,000 donated to charities in YBS mad giveaway

More than 1,200 charities throughout the UK have received a share of £68,000 in Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation's annual giveaway - Make a Difference Week.

For one week in June Yorkshire Building Society asked its customers and members of the public to call into one of its 136 branches or 65 agencies to nominate a charity to receive a donation. This year 1,424 people nominated a local charity to receive a financial boost - the highest number yet in the event's nine year history.

Make a Difference Week is made possible through the Society's unique fundraising initiative - Small Change, Big Difference. This scheme sees members of Yorkshire Building Society donate the pennies from the interest on their accounts to make a big pot of money for charities.

Louise Neill of the Society's Charitable Foundation said: "It's been a fantastic year for the Make a Difference Week giveaway. Many small local charities are having a tough time in the current financial climate but thanks to the 1,424 people who made a nomination 1,227 charities have received a little bit of extra help.

"Make a Difference Week is not only a chance for members of the public to help a charity or community group close to their hearts, it is also a chance for the Society's members to have a say in how the Charitable Foundation's money is spent."

One of those charities to receive support through Make a Difference Week nominations was The Laura Crane Trust. The Laura Crane Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to funding research specifically into cancers affecting 13-24 year-olds; it received 17 nominations from 10 different Yorkshire Building Society branches.

Pam Thornes of The Laura Crane Trust said: "We are thrilled to be part of Make a Difference Week, it's such a wonderful way for charities, especially a small charity like ourselves who have struggled recently, to receive a bit of extra funding and support. We would like to send a big thank you to the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation and to all the people who kindly took the time to put us forward."

To find out about charities in your area that received nominations for Make a Difference week call the YBS Press Office on 0845 1200 890.