The UK’s community bank, Metro Bank, gives every colleague a Day to Amaze – essentially a paid day off to support a local charity or good cause. Yorkshire resident and Lead Credit Risk Manager Lee Green recently used his Day to Amaze to take his MIDAS mini-bus exam so he could drive children to Leeds & District Camp.
The S.V.P. Leeds & District Camp, is a special works unit, within the charity St. Vincent de Paul Society, which provides children from inner city areas of West Yorkshire (including Leeds and Bradford) with a week’s holiday they would not otherwise have had.
The St Vincent de Paul Society has been organising camps since 1921. The Camp which must raise around £20,000 each year to run, takes place in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. Thanks to this ideal and tranquil location, the children can relax and leave behind any problems they may have at home and take part in various activities such as walking, swimming and bowling, along with all the usual on-site activities such as football, rounders and cricket. The Camp is run by a dedicated 40 strong team of volunteers, all of whom offer time from their annual holidays each summer to help run and organise the camp.
“It’s great working for a community bank which helps us support local good causes,” explains Metro Bank Lead Credit Risk Manager Lee Green. “Local schools give us use of their minibuses without charge, but they insist all drivers have passed the MIDAS test. I was pleased to pass the test as driving the minibus is only part of my volunteering duties. I help at the camp for a week every year - long days, but incredibly rewarding.”
Metro Bank’s Bradford store can be found at 5 Market Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD1 1EG. The store is open Monday – Saturday: 8.30am - 6pm. Sunday: 11am - 5pm. Bradford Metro Bank is also part of the Safe Space scheme – the store is available to anyone experiencing, or at risk of domestic abuse, providing the opportunity to safely call a helpline, support service or loved one.