Important information about compensation arrangements

our contribution to the community

The principal objective of the Melton Mowbray Building Society is to remain a strong local mutual building society that efficiently provides savings schemes, mortgage finance and personal financial advice and a high level of service to members who predominantly live within the Society's Branch and agency areas.

As a mutual Building Society we can offer enhanced benefits to members by

• Not paying dividends as we do not have shareholders - we work for our members.
• Offering attractive rates for investors and borrowers.
• Offering a range of products to meet members' needs including access to other external services
• Offering the highest level of customer service standards.
• Participating in special schemes.
  
  And, more particularly, as far as this document is concerned
  
• An involvement within our local Community
  
  The Society demonstrates its support of our local Community in many ways. We do not merely support in a financial capacity, we also offer our time, experience and knowledge.
  
  The staff time and effort afforded to Community initiatives is given during their working day, but a large portion is also within their own leisure time. Additionally, where that time and effort is given, the majority will be volunteered by the individuals concerned. There are no limits placed on the time given and efforts by staff subject, of course, to staffing availability in respect of work time initiatives. There is obviously a budget constraint as far as financial assistance is concerned and the total of £1,000's we are pleased to be able to give is reviewed on an annual basis.
  
  Those benefiting from support range from village fetes and galas, local events raising funds for charity, local societies (eg photographic), Town Estate events, church fund raising committees, groups organising concerts or musical events, primary schools, high schools, sporting groups both youngsters and adults, theatrical groups and so on.
  
  We have summarised below how we have supported our local community.
  
  financial
• Support advertising within newsletters, programmes or handbooks for local villages, clubs and groups.
• Sponsorship for events or groups and organisations.
• Donations towards events or the purchase of equipment for use within the community.
• Melton Mowbray Building Society Charitable Foundation - The Foundation was initiated by the Society in 1998 to meet charitable objectives within the Community surrounding the Society's Branch offices.
• Melton Mowbray Building Society golf umbrellas are given as prizes for raffles, auctions and similar events where normally fundraising is being undertaken.
  
  time, experience, space & participation
  
• Community events and news are displayed within our branch offices as each branch has a display board for clubs and organisations to display any forthcoming events etc.
• School Savings Scheme - The Society runs savings schemes, in which the children participate, with a number of local primary schools.
• Work Experience - The Society's branches take placements from the local schools for work experience, which gives the students an insight into the work of a building society.
• The Society is represented at occasional town meetings or takes part in town initiatives.
• Where a donation or sponsorship has been given we are sometimes present at award ceremonies, presentation evenings or Finals.
• Participation in national fundraising events such as Children in Need.
• Scouts Christmas Card Collection - Our Grantham and Melton Mowbray Branches are collection points for Christmas cards. For a small fee these are collected by the Scouts who then deliver around Grantham and Melton only.
• Festivities - During the Christmas period the Branches hold various functions for example, mince pie and sherry/coffee mornings; visits from Father Christmas for the children, fancy dress days.
• Children's competitions - These are held around specific periods such as Easter or Halloween.
• Presentation Cheques - Large presentation cheques are available for the local community to use for publicising their achievements with fundraising.
  
  newspapers
  
  The Society undertakes support advertising whereby local newspapers support appeals and small advertisements are placed for such appeals as Marie Curie, National Child Safety Week, Cancer Support, Children in Need and the Poppy Appeal.
  
  Our Awards
  
  The Society won the 2001 Community Award having entered the Grantham Business Awards for the first time.
  
  In 2001 the Society was also nominated for the national Mortgage Finance Gazette Community Award where we were Runners Up.
  
  In 2003 we have received an award from the Leicestershire & District Sunday Youth Football League to commemorate 10 years of support by the Society to the League.
  
  Finally, in 2003 the Society won the national publication Moneyfacts award for the 'Best Cash Mini ISA Provider'. This was not simply an award for the rate given on the account, but for the total service offered by the Society.
  
  The Society is aware that certain community groups, organisations, events and initiatives rely very much on the support of local businesses and institutions and as a mutual Building Society we remain committed to the principle of "supporting the local community" as has been the case throughout our years of history.