Tandem, the UK’s greener, digital bank has announced it has transformed its charity partnerships program in 2024 with a bold commitment to support five charities across its offices. The bank also wants to encourage genuine involvement rather than just financial support and will, therefore, provide employees two days of paid volunteering annually. It will also target 1 million minutes of volunteering by 2026. 

Five causes close to home, handpicked by local employees

Five causes have been designated as charity partners for the bank, handpicked by Tandem employees to champion across the year in line with its ethos of grassroots community engagement. Tandem has worked with the partners to develop opportunities for employees to have a substantial and coordinated impact at each.

Foundation 92: The Salford based charity, founded by the Manchester United ‘Class of 92’, focusses on supporting communities to improve their lives through sport, education and bespoke projects, with an emphasis on positive physical and mental wellbeing. 

Maggie’s: With its centres across the UK, Maggie’s provides expert cancer care and support and was founded by Maggie Keswick in Edinburgh in 1996.

The BoatHouse Youth: A longstanding partner of Tandem (Tandem is a platinum supporter), Blackpool’s Boathouse Youth works with children and young people aged 5-17, from deprived communities across the area – a vital cause for Tandem’s HQ.

Trees for Life: Tying into Tandem’s green ethos, Trees for Life is focussed on rewilding the Scottish Highlands, planting space for wildlife and communities to thrive. Tandem has already worked with the charity and has planted over 10,270 trees, and has a dedicated grove in Dundreggan.

Felix Food Project: The London-based charity is focussed on fighting hunger and food waste across the city, rescuing food waste from industry and delivering it to over 900 frontline charities and schools.

Rewarding engagement and involvement

Beyond financial support, the bank believes in grassroots support and encourages its staff to get involved, with two days of paid volunteering. With 500 hours so far clocked up, the bank has also set an ambitious target of 1 million minutes of volunteering by 2026 – equating to an equivalent value of just under £200,000.

To boost employee engagement further, Tandem will host Health and Wellbeing Roadshows, spotlighting volunteering opportunities and initiatives accessible to all. Notably, top volunteers stand to also win prizes, including cash rewards towards energy bills, and supermarket vouchers.

Commenting on the new programme, Tandem CEO, Alex Mollart, said: “I’m delighted to officially announce our newly revamped charity programme. We’ve done some great work in supporting some great causes over the past, but I’m excited that the new Tandem can have a more coordinated approach and one that touches on more charities – with five partners.

“What’s important is that these partners have been selected by our staff – the ones which matter to them and with our support can punch above their weight in terms of impact, with many offering vital lifelines in the community.

The team’s already started 2024 with a bang, but we’ve got big ambitions and I’m proud that we can encourage them further with paid volunteering days, a business-wide target of 1 million minutes and our new roadshows and prizes.”