HBOS Charity of the Year

HBOS has announced that CLIC Sargent, the children's cancer charity, caring for children with cancer throughout the UK, has been voted by its colleagues as “Charity of the Year” for the Million £ Challenge '08, after a vote by over 31,500 members of staff.  This breaks the previous record, set last year, of 26,500 votes.

Almost half the votes went to CLIC Sargent, which intends to use the funding to pay for financial care grants for families of children with cancer.

Colleagues will take part in fundraising events throughout 2008, with HBOS giving up to £1 million of the money raised to CLIC Sargent. Two other charities were short-listed – Age Concern and Diabetes UK – and after the £1m for CLIC Sargent is raised, any additional funds will be split equally between all three charities.

The 2007 Challenge led to the British Heart Foundation, as Charity of the Year, receiving £1.8m.  With this money, they are going to recruit 14 additional Heart Nurses, improving heart patients' recovery time and making a real difference the length and breadth of the country.

In addition, the WRVS and a partnership between the Family Holiday Association and the RNLI each received over £800,000.  The £3.4m raised in the Million £ Challenge 07 was record-breaking, and the HBOS Foundation's target for 2008 is break this record again and ensure that all three charities receive over £1m.

Angela Tinker, Head of the HBOS Foundation, said:

“Our objective is to make 2008 a record year. It would be great if all three charities could get the £1m each they need to deliver their projects.”

Carole Easton, chief executive, of CLIC Sargent, said:

"Everyone at CLIC Sargent is incredibly grateful to HBOS staff across the UK for choosing us to be the HBOS Million £ Challenge Charity for 2008. To be chosen for this remarkable partnership is a real milestone in the Charity’s fundraising history.

“The £million will go to help families who on top of the trauma of having a very sick child also find themselves facing huge financial difficulties trying to provide care and support for their child. This money will make a really tangible difference to so many lives at this very difficult time.”

The Million £ Challenge is the main focus for collective fundraising across HBOS. It was conceived in 2002 following the merger of Halifax and Bank of Scotland. Through all the fundraising events since its creation, more than £11 million has been raised for a wide range of deserving causes.

The HBOS Foundation Million £ Challenge is focused on colleagues, with all fundraising money being matched £ for £ by the Foundation.