Over £320,000.00 donated to Childline and Shelter
Our charities of the year 2020/21 were Childline (a service provided by NSPCC) and Shelter. A total of £324,234.96 has been donated to the charities following our partnership. This includes staff fundraising and the Bank’s matched funding of this at £25,000 per charity. It also includes the donations of just over £79,000.00 to each charity following the polymer £50 charity banknote auction. Childline has received £159,265.16 and Shelter has received £164,969.80.
Colleagues have supported the charities right from the start of the partnership throughout the year we have worked together. Predominantly all our fundraising has been virtual with some in person fundraising events towards the end of the partnership. Our fundraising has included virtual raffles and virtual quizzes, and a festive ‘step challenge’ in December 2020, helping to promote colleagues’ wellbeing at that time. Other fundraising has included colleagues who took part in the London Marathon or other physical challenges. Colleagues have also supported the charities through the Pennies from Heaven scheme with over half of our staff enrolled in this simple and effective charitable giving scheme.
The total amounts donated will have a significant impact on the services of both charities.
During our partnership Childline delivered over 200,000 counselling sessions and the top three concerns of these sessions focussed on mental/emotional health (36%); suicidal feelings (12%) and family relationships (10%). On average Childline is contacted by a child every 25 seconds. Some of these children come from homes that are not safe or are struggling with their mental health. Our fundraising of £159,265.16 means that we could fund Childline for five days, helping children who are often facing the most difficult time of their lives.
In terms of impact the partnership with the Bank of England has had for Shelter, the funds will be spent where they are most needed, but £164,969.80 could fund either:
Legal advice for 1,050 people facing eviction, helping people in crisis keep their home; or
8.248 calls to our emergency helpline, where we provide expert housing advice to help someone keep their home.
NSPCC CEO, Sir Peter Wanless said:
“We are grateful to the Bank of England for the amazing amount of money they’ve raised for the NSPCC’s Childline service.
“Childline has been a lifeline for many children during the pandemic, and these vital funds will enable our frontline staff and volunteers to continue to be there for those children who are in need of a listening ear and feel they have no-where else to turn.”
Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Shelter, said:
“When people turn to Shelter - whether it’s a family facing eviction, or a young person terrified of spending another night on the street - we are often their last chance at finding a safe place to call home. So, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone at the Bank of England because the money you’ve raised during our partnership will make a real difference to people whose lives have been turned upside down by poor housing and homelessness.
“Shelter’s emergency helpline is open 365 days a year so that no one has to face homelessness alone - we simply couldn’t do that, or run our other frontline services, if it wasn’t for the generosity of the public and partners like the Bank of England. Despite the challenges of fundraising in a pandemic, it has been great to see so many of the Bank’s staff getting stuck in to support our work, including on World Homelessness Day when the iconic Threadneedle Street building itself turned red for Shelter.”
Jane Cathrall, Executive Director People and Culture, Bank of England said:
“Our colleagues chose to support Childline (provided by NSPCC) and Shelter and they have given so generously throughout the year of our partnership. Their fundraising and support of campaigns to raise money for both charities has been incredible and it is fantastic to see how this support adds up and translates to the services that are provided.
“We are also pleased to see the amounts donated to the charities as a result of our polymer £50 charity banknote auction make a big contribution to the total donated.
“Both charities support vulnerable people in our society, right at the moment when they really need help, and it is so rewarding for everyone involved to see how our support can make a difference to the important work of both charities. We wish Childline and Shelter every success as they both continue their work to protect children, and those people who face homelessness.”
From: 
Published on 23.December 2021
