Market Harborough Building Society donates £250,000 to community fund and announces new programme to support young people.
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 14 April 2025
UPDATED: 15 April 2025
Market Harborough Building Society (MHBS) is delighted to announce a landmark donation of £250,000 to its community fund, dedicated to supporting good causes across South Leicestershire and North Northamptonshire over the next few years.
This initiative is a key part of their Thrive! Agenda, which focuses on giving back to communities and fostering brighter futures. A significant portion of this donation will be directed towards their groundbreaking new programme, "Thrive! Forward", which aims to support young people with their mental health, financial capability and resilience, careers planning, and employability skills.
Helping young people in these important areas is crucial:
- Mental Health: Over 40% of young people in the UK reported feeling sad or hopeless in 2024.
- Financial Capability: Around 52% of high school students in the UK demonstrated low financial literacy in 2024.
- Employability Skills: Over 850,000 young people aged 16-24 were not in education, employment, or training (NEET) in 2024.
As a building society and local employer, they have a unique opportunity to help young people understand finances and make better decisions. By sharing their knowledge and skills, they can empower the next generation with the financial literacy needed to navigate life's challenges. Additionally, they are committed to creating opportunities and providing the right support to set young people up for thriving futures.
They’re already working with Doshi, a leading financial education app, and will welcome more partners to support the “Thrive Forward” programme. By growing these partnerships and with the support of MHBS colleagues, who already assist local schools with work experience programmes and careers fairs, they aim to inspire and equip young people with the knowledge and experience to thrive.
They are thrilled to announce Kheron Gilpin as the ambassador for this programme. Kheron, an English amateur cruiserweight boxing champion and motivational speaker, embodies resilience and transformation. His inspiring journey and dedication to empowering young people make him the perfect fit for this role.
Kheron Gilpin:
"I'm honoured to be part of the Thrive! Forward programme. Supporting young people in their journey to success is something I'm deeply passionate about. MHBS's commitment to empowering youth aligns perfectly with my values, and together, we can make a real difference."
Iain Kirkpatrick, CEO of MHBS:
"Our commitment to the community is unwavering. Through the Thrive! Forward programme, we aim to empower young people with the skills and support they need to build a bright future. We're excited to work with Kheron Gilpin and our community partners to make this vision a reality."
The Thrive Agenda has already made significant strides in supporting communities. MHBS has invested £2.2 million in building seven new homes for those most in need locally and made large donations to food banks.
Colleagues donated over 2,000 volunteering hours in 2024, and over 60 free community events were held at their head office. Their commitment to giving back has been unwavering, and they continue to stand up for what matters most to customers, colleagues, and the community.
They will be announcing the first partner charities soon. Stay tuned for more updates!
For more information, visit their website www.mhbs.co.uk
