MHBS donates £250,000 to community fund
A Major Investment in Local Communities
We’re proud to announce a landmark £250,000 donation to our Community Fund, dedicated to supporting good causes across South Leicestershire and North Northamptonshire over the coming years. This significant investment is part of our ongoing Thrive! Agenda, which focuses on giving back to our communities and helping build brighter futures.
Introducing Thrive! Forward
A major portion of this donation will support our new flagship initiative: Thrive! Forward—a programme designed to empower young people by supporting their Mental health, Financial capability and Employability skills.
Why This Matters
We believe this support is more important than ever:
Mental Health: Over 40% of young people in the UK reported feeling sad or hopeless in 2024.
Financial Capability: Around 52% of high school students demonstrated low financial literacy.
Employability: Over 850,000 young people aged 16–24 were not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
As a building society and local employer, we’re in a unique position to help young people understand money and make confident decisions. By sharing our knowledge and experience, we aim to equip the next generation with the tools they need to thrive.
Partnering for Greater Impact
We’re already working with Doshi, a leading financial education app, and we’re excited to welcome more partners to support the Thrive! Forward programme. Our colleagues are also actively involved—supporting local schools through work experience placements and careers fairs.
Meet Our Thrive! Forward Ambassador
We’re thrilled to introduce Kheron Gilpin as our Thrive! Forward Ambassador. Kheron is an English amateur cruiserweight boxing champion and motivational speaker whose story of resilience and transformation inspires young people across the UK.
“I’m honoured to be part of the Thrive! Forward programme. Supporting young people in their journey to success is something I’m deeply passionate about. MHBS’s commitment to empowering youth aligns perfectly with my values, and together, we can make a real difference.”
— Kheron Gilpin
“Our commitment to the community is unwavering. Through the Thrive! Forward programme, we aim to empower young people with the skills and support they need to build a bright future. We’re excited to work with Kheron and our community partners to make this vision a reality.”
— Iain Kirkpatrick, CEO of MHBS
The Thrive Agenda in Action
Our Thrive Agenda is already making a difference. In 2024, we:
Invested £2.2 million in building seven new homes for those most in need
Donated significantly to local food banks
Contributed over 2,000 volunteering hours
Hosted more than 60 free community events at our head office
We remain committed to standing up for what matters most to our members, colleagues, and communities.
What’s Next?
We’ll be announcing our first partner charities for Thrive! Forward very soon—stay tuned for more updates!
