Celebrating a Milestone Year with Heart and Community Spirit
We turned 175 in late 2024, and we’re marking it throughout the year.
We’re choosing to celebrate in a way that truly reflects who we are: by serving the communities around Suffolk.
Through our ‘175 Good Deeds for Suffolk’ campaign, our amazing staff in our branches and head office have been busy getting stuck into all sorts of activities that make a real difference.
Whether it’s leaping out of planes (yes, really), lacing up for charity runs, or rolling up their sleeves to help local nature, our colleagues have stepped up to meet the challenge!
A year of giving back
Across Suffolk, our teams have been buzzing with energy and ideas. From sponsored challenges, such as skydives and races, including the Woodbridge 10k, to volunteering with Suffolk Wildlife Trust to help maintain local nature reserves, their efforts have been wide-ranging.
Staff have teamed up with charities like Dora Brown to transform homes for families in crisis. We’ve also donated essential food and supplies to support children and women fleeing domestic abuse through Lighthouse Women’s Aid, as well as individuals facing social isolation through Emmaus Suffolk. Just one generous donation was 200 Easter eggs given to children.
Other activities have included beach clean-ups, decorating rooms for local charities, and hosting bake sales – all reflecting the team’s dedication to making a meaningful difference.
Supporting Local Schools and Young People
We believe in backing the next generation. That’s why some of our branches are working with their local schools. For example, the Ipswich and Ravenswood branches are proudly sponsoring One Sixth Form College’s performing arts department, which will enable students to host performances throughout the year. The Hadleigh branch will be delivering careers and interview support at the Thomas Gainsborough school.
And There’s More to Come
Our teams will be supporting initiatives such as Brave the Shave for Macmillan Cancer Support, the obstacle race for Cancer Research UK, and a skydive for Suffolk Mind.
The Society is also launching its financial education initiative for students aged 15-18 in schools across Suffolk.
So far, staff have clocked up hundreds of hours of volunteering time, with many more activities planned.
Richard Norrington, CEO for Suffolk Building Society, said: “We wanted to celebrate our 175th anniversary in a way that gave back to the communities we serve. I’ve been very humbled to see how many of our wonderful staff have stepped up to help charities, schools, and vulnerable people in Suffolk, as community is at the very heart of what we do.
“Building societies began in the 18th century, changing how people bought homes and handled money. In Suffolk, we helped people to save and started building homes, giving our members a first step onto the housing ladder. Importantly, it also gave them a voice through the power to vote.
“Today, the Society’s stated mission is ‘to be a safe home for savers and to provide safe homes for our communities’. Fundraising and volunteering are just two ways we aim to make Suffolk an even better place for our communities to flourish, and we’ve been keen to increase that further in our anniversary year.
“The world has changed a lot in 175 years. I’m not sure our founders could have imagined swiping a phone to manage their money. But despite the technological advances, the Society’s values have remained.
“Throughout every chapter of our journey, we have remained true to our roots as a member-owned building society, always prioritising people over profits. We’re proud to have 11 locations serving Suffolk communities, and the impact of our ‘175 Good Deeds for Suffolk’ campaign is testament to the generosity and dedication of our staff to the county we call home.”
Charities, events, and schools that Suffolk Building Society is supporting as part of ‘175 Good Deeds for Suffolk’ campaign includes: Blyth Valley Rotary, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Coplestonians U16s Tigers football team, Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, Dementia UK, Dora Brown, East Anglian Air Ambulance, Emmaus Suffolk, Felixstowe Triathlon, Hadleigh Community Choir, Home-Start in Suffolk, Ipswich Housing Action Group, Lighthouse Women’s Aid, Macmillan Cancer Support, NSPCC, One Sixth Form College, Rural Coffee Caravan, Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill, Sole Bay Care Fund, Suffolk Mind, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, The Pear Tree Fund, Thomas Gainsborough School in Sudbury and Woodbridge Shufflers 10k race.
Photo caption: (Clockwise from top left): Delivering food to Lighthouse Women’s Aid, Skydiving for Suffolk Mind, Painting for Lighthouse Women’s Aid, Completing the Woodbridge 10k.
Photo credit for skydiving image: UK Parachuting
