{"id":45740,"date":"2026-01-14T14:54:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T14:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-uk\/?p=45740"},"modified":"2026-05-26T18:14:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T18:14:51","slug":"perspective-from-cricket-to-christmas-community-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-uk\/insights\/perspective-from-cricket-to-christmas-community-matters","title":{"rendered":"From cricket to Christmas: community matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It started with a simple question: What if we didn\u2019t just give money this Christmas, but gave our time instead?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, Jeffrey Ball, a wealth manager for RBC Brewin Dolphin in Newcastle<\/a>, jotted down an idea on a napkin. By 2025, his \u201812 Days of Christmas\u2019 initiative had become a lifeline for local charities \u2013 and an empowering opportunity for his colleagues to give back to their community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now largely run by his colleague Jamie Law, the scheme is simple but effective: volunteers sign up to provide a day (or more) of support to 12 local charities during December. This is a frantic time of year for charities: they\u2019re not only aiming to capitalise on the annual surge of festive generosity from the public but also, in many cases, catering for an increased demand for their help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So those extra RBC Brewin Dolphin hands \u2013 whether serving meals to the homeless at the local People\u2019s Kitchen<\/a>, picking and packing food parcels for FareShare North East<\/a> or doing festive decorating for The Children\u2019s Foundation<\/a> \u2013 are much appreciated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI see it as a gateway to bursting our employees\u2019 bubbles,\u201d says Ball. \u201cMost of us in the Newcastle office live in a relatively privileged world, and this gets colleagues out into the wider community, where it\u2019s a very different story for many of the people they\u2019re working to support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt FareShare North East, for instance, they\u2019re processing literally tons of food for food parcels, and getting to chat to the drivers, packers and warehouse managers in the process. It can be quite an eye-opener \u2013 it really brings home to them the sheer scale of the demand for food banks, and the extent to which so many local people rely on them.\u201d This Christmas, around 100 of the 300 Newcastle office staff took part in 16 activities for the 12 Days event; some will go on to support the charity they worked with on a more ongoing basis through RBC, by volunteering, fundraising or donating regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Newcastle<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Up the Toon: Volunteers at the Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than money<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The project is part of our broad commitment to giving back to society and supporting the communities in which we live, work and thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such schemes have become increasingly embedded in RBC\u2019s corporate life: in the past year our people have been involved with charitable and community enterprises nationwide, raising thousands of pounds and giving thousands of volunteer hours to good causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We focus on initiatives that align with RBC\u2019s \u2018three pillars\u2019 for positive change \u2013supporting the transition to a net-zero economy, equipping people with the skills for a thriving future, or driving more inclusive opportunities for prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When cricket became a classroom<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Christmas is an obvious time for community-focused opportunities, our support for a vibrant and healthy society is year round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Chance to Shine partnership was launched last April, and we saw national take-up as staff gave their time to help youngsters \u2013 especially girls \u2013 in underserved communities build life skills through cricket-focused activities,\u201d says Richard Douglas, RBC Wealth Management\u2019s Director of Brand and Citizenship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staff were on hand to help out at the world\u2019s biggest cricket lesson, when 943 children from 35 schools from across the country came to learn at the home of the game, Lord’s Cricket Ground, and were joined by England cricketing star and RBC Wealth Management ambassador, Joe Root.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Worlds<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Volunteers ahead of the \u2018world\u2019s biggest cricket lesson\u2019<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RBC volunteers also took part in innovative skills-sharing days, working with groups of students from girls\u2019 schools who had already had cricket coaching through Chance to Shine\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the mornings, volunteers were put through their paces in cricket training sessions<\/a> organised and run by the girls; in the afternoons the roles were reversed as the girls teamed up to make Dragon\u2019s Den-type project pitches to key staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Douglas observes: \u201cIt\u2019s a great way for the girls to build confidence and leadership skills \u2013 and the volunteers really see the difference the sessions make.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Skills-sharing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Skills-sharing days sparked mutual growth as volunteers and students exchanged expertise.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A race where every step tells a story<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each autumn in London, staff can support vital causes by joining the RBC Race for the Kids. This family-friendly fun run is part of RBC\u2019s global annual event, raising funds to transform young lives across the UK through children\u2019s charities. Worldwide, RBC Race for the Kids events have fundraised over CA$100 million to-date!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The London event is in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital, and it\u2019s a popular one with staff: almost 2,000 of the 10,000 runners who turned out in 2025 were either RBC employees or their friends and relatives. And 2025 also saw the return of RBC Race for the Kids Jersey after a four-year absence, fundraising for the Jersey Child Care Trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Colleagues,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Colleagues, family and friends at RBC Race for the Kids London<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve also continued our partnership with The Old Vic theatre in London for the Take the Lead educational programme. It\u2019s another initiative designed to equip young people entering adulthood with the confidence, conversational skills and capacity to effectively convey their strengths and abilities in today\u2019s testing jobs market \u2013 but this time through the power of the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now in its seventh year, Take the Lead aims to empower young people from state schools across the country through a series of drama workshops, tackling everything from communication and self-belief to teamwork and problem-solving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RBC volunteers work alongside the Take the Lead team in the workshops, sharing their insights and career experience with students \u2013 and often learning a thing or two themselves. In 2025, 684 students from 32 schools took part, including mock interview sessions at RBC\u2019s London headquarters.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full steam ahead in 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This year isn\u2019t just about maintaining momentum – it\u2019s about accelerating impact and expanding opportunities for our staff to volunteer. Across Europe, we\u2019re rallying behind three dynamic charities whose missions align with our pillars for change:<\/p>\n\n\n\n