BRADFORD-based Yorkshire Building Society has signed a three-year agreement with a local grant-making organisation to act as a patron until 2021.

The Society has signed the deal with Leeds Community Foundation and its #GiveBradford campaign to become patrons of its 100 Club, which supports local charities and community organisations.

The Leeds Community Foundation is one of Yorkshire’s largest independent grant-making organisations, and is part of a network of foundations which last year past the £1 billion mark in grants made.

Through its #GiveBradford campaign, it works with local businesses and philanthropists to direct investments into community groups and projects working with some of the most disadvantaged communities in Bradford.

In the last year, the foundation invested more than £6 million in grants across the region.

The 100 Club is a scheme run by the foundation for businesses and individuals that want to help make a positive impact in the communities in which they work and live.

Members of the club invest in the foundation to enable it to make more grants available to local projects so it can continue to support the projects in the work they do to create positive opportunities across the Bradford district.

Tanya Jackson, head of corporate affairs at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “As a building society based in Bradford, we’re proud of our heritage in West Yorkshire.

“We’re delighted to make this long term commitment to the work Leeds Community Foundation by signing up to the Give Bradford Campaign and supporting the Foundation’s work.

“We would encourage other local businesses to do the same.”

Kate Hainsworth, chief executive of Leeds Community Foundation, added: “We are delighted that Yorkshire Building Society has chosen to champion Leeds Community Foundation and the Give Bradford campaign to help make a difference in communities where their staff live and work.

“Launched in November last year the Give Bradford Campaign is gaining real momentum and the long term commitment by Yorkshire Building Society demonstrates their commitment and passion to seeing everyone in our region thrive.”