Up to £150,000 will be awarded to 12 charities over three years, from the Santander Foundation Financial & Digital Empowerment Fund.
The new fund is aimed at supporting financial inclusion by helping more people across the UK become digitally and financially empowered.
The fund forms part of the foundation’s new strategy for 2021 to 2024 to ensure it has a greater impact in local communities.
To apply, organisations must be based in the UK and working within one of the nations or regions.
Applicants must also be UK registered charities or community interest companies and be working to build people’s digital and financial skills.
Differing amounts can be requested in each of the three years, but the minimum amount requested in any one year must be £25,000 with the maximum over three years £150,000.
‘The pandemic further highlighted the crucial importance of digital and financial skills’
In the UK, 39% of adults do not feel confident managing their money and 22% of people have less than £100 in savings.
Judith Moran, chair at the Santander Foundation, said: “Without access to mainstream financial services and tools, the impacts of financial and digital exclusion are profound. Not only do people pay more for goods and services and have reduced choice, but it can also affect education, employment, health, housing and overall wellbeing.
“The launch of our new grants programme is aimed at supporting charities who work with those that feel the impacts of financial or digital exclusion the most. With the pandemic further highlighting the crucial importance of digital and financial skills, with more and more basic services moving online, we want to ensure we build the capacity of organisations that help more people in our communities become digitally and financially empowered, creating better opportunities for their future.”
Since 2016, the Santander Foundation has supported organisations working with disadvantaged people with over £21m.
Applications for the new grants programme can be made online and the deadline is close of business on 13 August 2021.
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