Online volunteering initiative by Santander: assisting the most susceptible in navigating the COVID-19 situation
Santander Steps Up Community Support During COVID-19 Pandemic
Santander, a global banking giant, has been actively responding to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic by launching various community support initiatives and volunteer programmes across multiple countries. These initiatives aim to address health, social, and economic issues caused by the crisis.
In the United Kingdom, Santander has been supporting healthcare and vulnerable communities through donations and employee volunteering, often partnering with local charities to distribute resources and provide financial literacy training relevant to pandemic challenges.
Spain, too, has seen the bank launch emergency funds to help small businesses and vulnerable families, while encouraging employee volunteer efforts in delivering aid and providing remote support for affected groups.
In Poland, Santander has focused on digital education initiatives to support remote learning for children and youth during school closures, alongside health-related donations.
In Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay, Santander has supported social organizations fighting COVID-19 by funding medical supplies, providing food aid to vulnerable families, and mobilizing employee volunteers to assist elderly and at-risk populations.
Portugal's initiatives have centred around COVID-19 relief funds, support for SMEs affected by lockdowns, and volunteer programmes engaging staff in community outreach and education campaigns on health and safety measures.
In a bid to make society more inclusive, Santander's virtual initiatives also include the sale of exclusive t-shirts to support two solidarity projects in Portugal, and virtual talks to guide entrepreneurs, SMEs, and the general public on ideas to overcome the challenge of COVID-19 in Mexico.
The bank has also launched the Aqui e Agora programme in Portugal, where bank employees call elderly customers who are less digitally savvy to provide company and assistance. In Chile, Santander executives are participating in a tutoring program for students supported by Fundacion Beleen Educa.
Notably, Santander's virtual initiatives aim to make society more inclusive. In an unspecified location, Santander has launched the Responsible Banking Santander Effect, The Embrace Network: Pride in being yourself campaign.
In Poland, over 15,000 protective masks have been sewn and donated to health centres, welfare homes, and other institutions. Regular financial training, legal advice, and mentoring programmes for victims of gender-based violence are still running.
In Brazil, Santander volunteers are regularly chatting on the phone with 82 senior citizens aged over 60 to provide company during the quarantine. In Uruguay, Santander is giving talks to groups affected by the pandemic through Santander Universities, and offering online talks on investments in the current context.
Santander volunteers are continuing to collaborate with social organizations during the pandemic, demonstrating their commitment to fostering resilience and recovery amid COVID-19. For more detailed information on specific programmes or quantifiable impacts in particular countries, further searches on Santander's official corporate social responsibility reports or press releases would be advisable.
- Santander's financial education training in the United Kingdom focuses on pandemic challenges, equipping vulnerable communities with essential financial skills.
- In Spain, the bank has established emergency funds for small businesses and funding for medical supplies, with employee volunteers supporting aid delivery and remote assistance.
- Digital education initiatives are a key part of Santander's response in Poland, helping children and youth navigate remote learning during school closures.
- The bank's social programs in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay have provided food aid, medical supplies, and volunteer support to elderly and at-risk populations.
- As part of its efforts to create a more inclusive society, Santander has launched campaigns such as the Responsible Banking Santander Effect and The Embrace Network: Pride in being yourself, promoting diversity and equality on social media and through virtual talks.
