Vanquis Banking Group

We are incredibly proud of our flagship partnership with Vanquis Banking Group (VBG) who fund our practitioner service in Bradford and Kent. Like us, VBG supports social mobility with the purpose of ‘[helping to] put people on a path to a better everyday life’. By investing in our practitioner services in the communities in which they serve, together we have made meaningful long-term transformations and helped VBG with their vision to build a future where every child and young person in the UK is supported to achieve their potential. 

This fantastic partnership was established in 2016, and is stronger than ever, evolving to meet the needs of the families we support. When hit with the greatest cost of living crisis in decades, access to a school uniform emerged as one of the biggest barriers to a child being in school. In response to this challenge, VBG introduced a school uniform fund to provide all the clothing a child needs to feel comfortable in school. The school uniform fund also acts as a ‘trojan horse’, helping practitioners to provide immediate relief to financial pressures before going on to provide the intensive support so many families need. This incredible programme received great coverage in local press including the The Yorkshire Post and the Telegraph & Argus. 

Alongside financial contributions, VBG employees have donated their time, skills and expertise to encourage children from all backgrounds to consider a career within the financial sector, delivering aspiration sessions for children we support. These aspiration sessions involve students attending VBG offices to learn more about the working world and raise their aspirations for their own career prospects. 

Vanquis employees have supported our campaigns including World Book Day & Christmas – purchasing books, toys and food vouchers for those in need. These occasions often exclude and isolate disadvantaged families but by working with VBG we’re able to change the tale for the families we support. 

We were extremely grateful to Vanquis employees who completed a DIY SHS challenge at one of our partner schools, Erkenwald, Mayesbrook Park School. Mayesbrook Park is an alternative provision that provides full-time education and support for 11 to 16 year olds who face challenges that make attending a mainstream school challenging, such as depression and anxiety. 

For many, Erkenwald is a space where they feel safe and have the vital support to thrive in their education, providing students with the necessary skills to move forward successfully into the next phase of their lives. Vanquis employees worked hard throughout the day to paint the communal area into a calming grey colour, adding plants and a mural as finishing touches alongside building raised beds & benches to create a space for students to garden and feel relaxed. The difference Vanquis employees made to student’s lives within one day is huge, and we are so grateful for their support. Alongside benefiting the students, the volunteers also had a great day too.