STAFF at the Huddersfield town centre branch of Barclays Bank are keen to back local causes.

Staff at the New Street branch have raised more than £25,000 to benefit over 50 local charities in the past two years alone.

In addition, more than 80 staff supported some 20 volunteer projects for local organisations – sharing their time and skills for the benefit of a wide variety of voluntary groups.

A spokeswoman for Barclays said: “Corporate responsibility is increasingly at the heart of our business. It is about how we conduct business; how we choose to be profitable and not just how we make our social investment.

“We are proud to have one of the most developed corporate programmes in the UK and this was recognised this year when we were ranked third in the Business in the Community Index.”

In the UK, the bank has supported causes including Help the Aged, National Children’s Homes and Leonard Cheshire through schemes such as its policy of investing 1% of UK pre-tax profits in community activity..

Local causes to benefit from its fundraising efforts include schools, nurseries and play groups, sports organisations and Kirkwood Hospice at Dalton.

Michael Richardson, Huddersfield branch manager said: “Being short listed for the Huddersfield Examiner Business Awards has been fantastic recognition for the staff.

“They are all committed to the local community where they live and work and they are delighted to have made such a real and lasting difference to their local community.”