THE DANSKE BANK EMPLOYEES’ CHARITY GROUP YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
Reference and Administrative Information
Enquiries and requests Hon Secretary for donations Danske Bank Employees’ Charity Group c/o Danske Bank Small Business Support Team Killeaton House 41 Mosside Road Derriaghy Belfast BT17 9HH Bankers Danske Bank Donegall Square West Belfast Independent Examiners Harbinson Mulholland HMRC reference number Accepted as a charity by HM Revenue & Customs under reference XT12554 Charity Commission for NI Charity Commission Reference Number 102014 Charities adviser Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action 61 Duncairn Gardens Belfast BT15 2GB
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THE DANSKE BANK EMPLOYEE’S CHARITY GROUP YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
Annual Report of Committee
The Charity Group
The Members of The Danske Bank Employees’ Charity Group (formally The Northern Bank Employees’ Charity Group) consist entirely of current and retired officials of Danske Bank. However the Group, which is accepted as a charity by HM Revenue & Customs, operates completely independently of the Bank. Members donate to a fund through the Give As You Earn Scheme and, while awaiting distribution, the fund attracts interest.
Structure, Governance and Management
A Committee, elected by the Members, manages the fund by considering requests for donations, as well as by actively seeking out worthy causes to support.
The current Committee, who are the Trustees of the charity, consists of:
Amber Law (Chairperson) Louise O’Gara Susan McKane Kevin McGovern Fiona Sanders Chris Wynne Heather Harman June Hutton Cheryl Kirk
Supporting the Committee
Ken Sullivan, Honorary Secretary Richard Lapsley, Honorary Treasurer
Objectives and Activities
The objects of the Charity Group undertaken for the public benefit are the relief of poverty, the advancement of education and such other purposes beneficial to the community as are recognised in law as wholly charitable.
Financial Review
During the year 25 separate donations were made by the Charity Group, totalling £58,944.00.
Achievements and Performance
The Charity Group has a broad remit and so the Committee was privileged and delighted during the year to grant donations to a wide variety of charities and good causes throughout Northern Ireland.
Plans for Future Periods
The Charity Group intends to continue supporting a wide range of charities and good causes, including those smaller, lesser known groups working in local communities.
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THE DANSKE BANK EMPLOYEE’S CHARITY GROUP YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
Annual Report of Committee (continued)
Policy on Reserves
The Committee considers it essential to ensure that there are always funds available to pay over any donations that have been committed and require prompt funding.
Approved by the Committee and signed on its behalf by
Ken Sullivan Hon Secretary
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THE DANSKE BANK EMPLOYEES’ CHARITY GROUP YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
Chair person’s Message
2022 has been a challenging year for many people, and charities in Northern Ireland, but I delighted that the employee charity group has donated £58,944 to 20 charities, which is a great increase from the previous years.
As before, we are always keen to support the smaller causes working within their communities across Northern Ireland as we know those funds provided can make all the difference for them.
During the year we have used the our internal social media platform to highlight the work of the charity group across the whole bank and each committee member is giving regular updates to their own colleague teams. We plan to do more of this in 2023 and increase the visibility of the of the charity group and the difference we make to the charities we support. We appreciate with the current financial climate many charities are noticing a downturn in donations so we will focus on maintaining and building our donor base by making contributing , or changing existing contributions, easier.
A number of committee members this year took the opportunity to visit some of the Charites we have supported and it was humbling and gratifying to see the difference the donations have made.
Being able to see and hear what our support means to the causes we support only re-enforces our need, as a committee, to strive to increase our contributor numbers.
As referenced our focus in 2023 will be maintaining and building our donor base but will also be to highlight the group externally to increase the number of requests we receive. During 2023 we will break the £1.25million mark for donations made since the group begun and it fills me with great pride to know the difference that we, as current or former staff , have made to so many charities across the Provence.
During the year Susan McKane stepped back as Chairperson for the group I would like to take this opportunity to thank Susan for the wonderful guidance and support she has provided to the group in the last 5 years as Chairperson and the support she gave many years before that as an active committee member..
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Ken Sullivan Honorary Secretary, Richard Lapsley Honorary Treasurer, Chris Wynne Deputy Chairperson and all our wonderful Committee Members for their continued participation and help over this past year.
In closing I would like to sincerely thank you for your continued support, either as a current or former member of staff. Your continued donations have allowed us to make a real difference in 2022 and the committee look forward to doing the same in 2023.
Kindest regards,
Amber Law Chairperson of Committee
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