Dream-A-Way Scoops £6k NatWest CommunityForce Award
Exeter based charity Dream-A-Way has this week been awarded a £6,000 NatWest CommunityForce award, thanks to an enthusiastic voting campaign by their supporters.
In July 2011 NatWest launched CommunityForce, a new initiative to help support local charities, organisations and groups to raise publicity for their work and attract volunteers.
The programme also provided the opportunity for three groups in each of our 158 CommunityForce areas to win awards of £6,000 each. Organisations and charities applied for awards during the summer and an on-line public vote then took place to decide which three organisations in each area would receive the awards.
Around 7000 eligible charities and community projects in the UK applied to take part in CommunityForce and over 450,000 votes were cast.
CommunityForce, which forms part of the bank’s Customer Charter, offers organisations more than just financial support.
By applying for the awards, local charities and projects became part of a local online network giving them greater visibility and the opportunity to attract volunteers from the local area. NatWest staff are also getting involved by volunteering their time and expertise.
Steve Aldridge was recently appointed Local CEO for NatWest in Exeter. His role is to lead the bank in the local area, helping her branches to deliver the bank’s Customer Charter and support the aim of becoming the UK’s most helpful bank.
Steve said: ““We’ve had a fantastic response to CommunityForce and it’s clear that people in Exeter are passionate about Dream-A-Way. Local residents voted in great numbers and this certainly demonstrates how important this charity is to the community.”
Jeff MERRETT MBE Chairman of Dream-A-Way added “This is extremely generous of NatWest especially at this time. This money will be used towards the purchase of a replacement luxury caravan later this year. I was delighted that so many of our friends and supporters took their time to vote for Dream-A-Way. Our success is due to the fantastic support from the community Thank you”
More information about Community Force is available at
www.natwest.com/communityforce or
www.dream-a-way.org
