The Tenby branch of Yorkshire Building Society has been announced as a winner in the inaugural Society Matters Awards.

The branch, on Church Street, is one of 20 that has been recognised by the society for its commitment to making a positive impact on its local community and responding to the issues that are important to its customers in Tenby.

Society Matters is the name of Yorkshire Building Society’s corporate responsibility programme which aims to make a genuine difference through charity fundraising, volunteering and community activities.

In 2015, colleagues and customers have collected clothes and household items for Pembrokeshire Action to Combat Hardship (PATCH), and pet food, blankets and toys for Greenacres Animal Rescue.

Colleagues have also volunteered their time at Lamphey Primary School and Tenby Firefighters’ Carnival.

The society offers every colleague up to 31 hours’ paid leave to help out at a charity or good cause of their choice through its corporate volunteering programme.

The branch also in 2015 raised over £900 for the Society’s Hour of Need campaign which funds Marie Curie nursing care for people with a terminal illness. Every £20 funds one hour of care and customers and colleagues have raised the equivalent of 45 hours of Marie Curie nursing care.

Sian Rees, manager of the Tenby branch of Yorkshire Building Society, said: “As an organisation, we believe that together with our members we can make a real difference in our local communities.

“I’m honoured that we have been recognised with a Society Matters Award for the work we have done in 2015 in support of Tenby, and we will be continuing this work in 2016.”

The society aims to inspire its people to make a difference by getting involved in community, charity and volunteering activities.

If you would like further information about the Yorkshire’s Society Matters programme, visit www.ybs.co.uk/societymatters