Our 2025 community plans
Earlier this month, we announced a robust financial performance for 2024, achieving a profit before tax of £3.4 million despite increased competition in lending and savings.
Iain Kirkpatrick, our Chief Executive, said, “A huge thanks to my colleagues for delivering another record-breaking year. We also couldn’t have done this without our members, who are at the heart of everything we do.”
Newcombe House: Our Community Hub
On Thursday, 24th April 2025, we welcomed over 100 people to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and shared updates on our exciting community plans for 2025. Last year, we hosted 60 community events at Newcombe House. As our head office continues its evolution into a vital community hub in 2025, we anticipate hosting over 260 events with more than 3,000 attendees. Activities will include home education workshops, charity networking events, fundraising events, and much more.
Tim Neal, Head of Footprint, commented, “We’re thrilled to see Newcombe House becoming a central hub for our community. The increase in events reflects our commitment to providing a versatile space that meets the diverse needs of local community groups, charities, and local businesses.”
Our £250,000 pound donation to our community fund
Thanks to the unwavering support of our Society Members, we have donated £250,000 to our community fund, supporting various causes across Leicestershire and Northamptonshire to foster stronger communities.
As part of this donation, we are introducing “Thrive! Forward,” a programme aimed at helping young people with mental health, financial capability, resilience, career planning, and employability skills. By sharing our knowledge and skills, we aim to guide the next generation in making sound financial decisions.
Kheron Gilpin, our new Community Ambassador, was introduced to the members. He is passionate about supporting young people in their journey to success, which aligns perfectly with our commitment to empowering youth. Together, we aim to make a real difference. We are already collaborating with Doshi, a leading financial education app, and hope to welcome more partners to join this endeavour.
Lesley Vernon, Chief Engagement Officer, said, “We are incredibly proud to launch ‘Thrive! Forward.’ This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting young people in our community by helping them build thriving futures.”
Additionally, a year-long campaign will launch in mid-May, featuring a monthly prize draw where members in NN or LE postcodes can win a £1,000 donation to a local charity of their choice, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of building societies.
Our plans for Welland House, our branch on the Square.
Plans to redevelop our Market Harborough branch, Welland House, were also shared at the AGM. The project includes refurbishing the branch space and converting the upper floors into flats for a community social purpose, subject to planning permission.
While these plans are in the early stages, we aim to support the local community, particularly young people struggling to get onto the housing ladder—a significant challenge in Market Harborough. This approach safeguards one of our key assets for ongoing community benefit. Our goal is to develop a new branch that meets the needs of current and future customers, supporting the ambition of a modern and forward-thinking mutual.
We continue to demonstrate our commitment to the community through robust financial performance, innovative programmes, and ambitious redevelopment plans. By supporting local initiatives and creating spaces for community engagement, we are dedicated to building thriving futures for our members and the wider community.
