Yorkshire Building Society, on High Street West, joined branches across the country to celebrate 150 years of the Society helping people save for their futures and buy their first homes, by calling on members of the public to nominate charities to receive £100.

The Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation marked the occasion by giving away £150,000 as part of its annual Make a Difference Week, and five charities in Sunderland have received a share of the anniversary donation. 

The charities benefiting, thanks to nominations from local residents are: 

• National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
• Alzheimer’s Society
• British Sjorgren’s Society
• Fairy Bricks
• Shelter for the Homeless

Clare Sutton, manager at the Sunderland branch, said:

“Our annual Make a Difference campaign is always very popular, but this year we’ve been able to support more charities than ever before thanks to the Charitable Foundation’s generous donation to mark the Society’s 150^th anniversary.

“I’m delighted that five worthwhile causes in our area are part of the hundreds of local charities the Society is supporting throughout the UK and I’m sure the money will be used to make a positive difference in our community.”

Make a Difference Week is only possible thanks to Yorkshire Building Society’s innovative Small Change, Big Difference scheme, which enables members to donate the pennies from their annual interest on their savings and mortgages accounts each year to the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation.

Julie said:

“I was delighted to be invited to Yorkshire Building Society’s Sunderland branch to meet representatives from the charities involved.

“I hope the money donated can help them to have a positive impact in our community.”