In addition to our financial contribution, we recognise that it is in our long-term interest to help improve the social and commercial fabric of local communities where we operate. That is why we have one of the largest community investment programmes in the UK.

The majority of Lloyds Banking Group’s charitable giving is channelled through the four Lloyds TSB Foundations, which cover England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. Their mission is to improve the lives of disadvantaged people in local communities.

Through their shareholding in Lloyds Banking Group, the Lloyds TSB Foundations together received £37.1 million to support their work in 2008, bringing the total contributions since 1997 to over £360 million, making Lloyds Banking Group one of the largest charitable donors in the UK.

The Foundations recognise that their success as community and local funders depends on maintaining a presence in and actively engaging with communities. The England and Wales Foundation, for example, remains one of the few grant-makers with a significant regional presence and its regional structure enables the Foundation to respond directly and effectively to local needs.

The England and Wales Foundation has a particular focus on supporting charities that improve social and community involvement, improve life choices and chances and help disadvantaged people to be heard. In 2008, funding focused on areas of geographical deprivation and the needs of both individuals and multiple communities. Where possible, the Foundation used its size and presence to facilitate the voice of smaller groups within their local, regional and national networks.

The main grants programmes are designed to address essential community needs and in particular, to support small under-funded charities. 35 per cent of the charities supported by the England and Wales Foundation in 2008 had a total income of £100,000 or less and over 90 per cent had an income of £500,000 or less.

In addition to the Foundations’ support for local community causes, thousands of our colleagues volunteer to help in their communities, raise funds for the Group’s Charity of the Year or make direct donations to charity using the UK’s Give As You Earn system. In 2008, the Foundations provided matched funding for nearly 41,000 hours of time volunteered by Lloyds Banking Group colleagues in the community and also matched over £937,000 funds raised by colleagues for charities.

Our Charity of the Year relationship with Barnardo’s was extended to 18 months and ended on 30 June 2008. Over £1.8 million was raised for the Lloyds TSB and Barnardo’s ‘Securing Futures’ partnership far exceeding the £1 million target. The money raised will provide thousands of vocational training and education places for some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people across the UK to help them have a better start in life and a brighter future.

Our new Charity of the Year is the British Heart Foundation, the overwhelming choice among the thousands of staff who voted to choose their charity of the year. Recognising the value of longer-term relationships, we have extended our partnership with the British Heart Foundation to two years. We aim to raise at least £2 million to fund the appointment of 15 specialist heart nurses across the UK.

As the first Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, we are delighted at the record breaking successes of Team GB and Paralympics GB in Beijing.  Our Partnership however, is not just about focusing on elite sport, and the action that will take place for 17 days in 2012. 

Research amongst staff and customers showed a real interest in supporting young athletes in their local community and helping them share in the excitement of Britain’s journey to 2012.  Thus, the vision for our Partnership was created, to inspire and support young people, communities and businesses all over Britain on their journey to London 2012 and beyond. 

For every Olympic or Paralympic medallist, there are thousands of genuine hopefuls without recognition or funding.  Lloyds TSB Local Heroes has been set up to help more of those young hopefuls when they need it most.

There are currently 250 Local Heroes, representing aspiring Olympians and Paralympians from all walks of life, from all sporting disciplines, from all over Great Britain.  The funding we provide helps them on their journey in a variety of ways, from travel costs and new equipment, to competition entry fees and nutritional support.