Skipton Group

Just hours after the launch of the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Myanmar Earthquake Appeal, the Skipton Group has pledged £25,000 in vital funding to support urgent relief efforts.

The donation of £25,000 is coming from the 1% of pre-tax profits the Skipton Group donates to charity each year.

Skipton Building Society has also opened its doors to anyone wanting to donate to the appeal. People can simply pop into any of Skipton’s branches across the UK or text SKIPTON to 70676 to donate £10. Texts cost £10 plus standard network rate. 100% of your donations goes to the DEC Myanmar Earthquake Appeal. For full terms and conditions visit dec.org.uk.

Alternatively, people can donate via the DEC appeal donation line: 0330 123 0555.

About the Myanmar earthquake

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake has devastated huge areas of Myanmar. Hundreds of people are still missing. Many more have no access to the safe shelter, clean water, food and medical care they need to survive. Countless roads and buildings have been destroyed, including hospitals, schools and water supplies. Network and power lines are down. People are cut off from vital services.

Myanmar was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis with a third of the population in need of humanitarian aid. Now the situation is catastrophic. DEC charities are already on the ground in affected communities and are working hard to access remote areas. They urgently need more funds to scale up their work and reach the most vulnerable.

At the time of issuing this press release; the number of people believed to have died following the earthquakes now stands at over 3085, 4,715 people are injured and 1.2 million people have been displaced.

Michaela Wright, Skipton’s Group Head of Sustainability, said:

“We’ve all watched on in horror at the unimaginable loss and destruction caused by the devastating earthquake in Myanmar. Across the Skipton Group we want to help with the rescue and relief efforts and so have donated £25,000 to get much needed aid to those people and families who so desperately need help. The donations will go towards core relief such as shelter, food, water, sanitation, and education. For anyone wanting to also donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal – simply text using the text code or pop into any UK Skipton Building Society branch to make your donation.”

For more information or to find your nearest Skipton Building Society branch, visit www.skipton.co.uk/branchfinder