Building society celebrates 175 years with its ‘175 Good Deeds for Suffolk’ campaign

Today, Suffolk Day (June 21) Suffolk Building Society is celebrating its 175th anniversary by launching its “175 Good Deeds for Suffolk” campaign, which sees its staff running, leaping, and volunteering to help communities across the county. 

All 170 of them have shown their commitment to supporting charities and communities throughout Suffolk.

From sponsored challenges, such as skydives and races, including the Woodbridge 10k, to volunteering with Suffolk Wildlife Trust to help maintain local nature reserves, their efforts have been wide-ranging. 

Employees have been working with local charity Dora Brown to transform homes for families in crisis, while others have donated essential food and supplies to Lighthouse Women’s Aid and Emmaus Suffolk, to support children and women fleeing domestic violence and those facing social isolation, respectively. Generous donations included 200 Easter eggs given to children.

Some of the society’s 11 locations in Suffolk are also working with their local schools.

For example, the Ipswich and Ravenswood branches are sponsoring One Sixth Form College’s performing arts department, which will enable students to host performances throughout the year.

The Hadleigh branch will be delivering careers and interview support at Thomas Gainsborough school. 

The society is also launching its financial education initiative for students aged 15 to 18 in schools across Suffolk. 

Other staff will be supporting initiatives such as Brave the Shave for Macmillan Cancer Support, the Pretty Muddy obstacle race for Cancer Research UK, and a skydive for Suffolk Mind.

Other activities have included beach clean-ups and a host of bake sales – all reflecting the team’s dedication to making a meaningful difference.

So far, staff have clocked up hundreds of hours of volunteer time, with many more activities planned.

Richard Norrington, CEO for Suffolk Building Society, said: “We wanted to celebrate our 175th anniversary in a way that gave back to the communities we serve.

“I’ve been very humbled to see how many of our wonderful staff have stepped up to help charities, schools, and vulnerable people in Suffolk, as community is at the very heart of what we do. 

“Building societies began in the 18th century, changing how people bought homes and handled money. In Suffolk, we helped people to save and started building homes, giving our members a first step onto the housing ladder. Importantly, it also gave them a voice through the power to vote.

“Today, the Society’s stated mission is ‘to be a safe home for savers and to provide safe homes for our communities’.

“Fundraising and volunteering are just two ways we aim to make Suffolk an even better place for our communities to flourish and we’ve been keen to increase that even further in our anniversary year. 

“The world has changed a lot in 175 years. I’m not sure our founders could have imagined swiping a phone to manage their money. But despite the technological advances, the society’s values have remained.

“Throughout every chapter of our journey, we have remained true to our roots as a member-owned building society, always prioritising people over profits.

“We’re proud to have 11 locations serving Suffolk communities, and the impact of our ‘175 Good Deeds for Suffolk’ campaign is testament to the generosity and dedication of our staff to the county we call home.” 

As of June 21, the full list of charities, events, and schools that Suffolk Building Society is supporting as part of “175 Good Deeds for Suffolk” campaign includes: Blyth Valley Rotary, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Coplestonians U16s Tigers football team, Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, Dementia UK, Dora Brown, East Anglian Air Ambulance, Emmaus Suffolk, Felixstowe Triathlon, Hadleigh Community Choir, Home-Start in Suffolk, Ipswich Housing Action Group, Lighthouse Women’s Aid, Macmillan Cancer Support, NSPCC, One Sixth Form College, Rural Coffee Caravan, Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill, Sole Bay Care Fund, Suffolk Mind, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, The Pear Tree Fund, Thomas Gainsborough School in Sudbury and Woodbridge Shufflers 10k race.