Social impact | CSR Matters: An Interview with Leeds Building Society

Welcome to CSR Matters, where we - YourCause from Blackbaud – sit down with fellow industry leaders to take a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiring stories, innovative strategies, and key factors driving meaningful corporate social responsibility (CSR) across the UK and EU.

In this insightful conversation, our very own Ben Lewis-D'Anna, Marketing Lead, UK & Europe, is joined by Katy Hartley-Ross, Corporate Affairs & Volunteering Manager, at Leeds Building Society, to discuss why CSR sits at the heart of their business strategy; as well as how they engage their employees and support their community through their impact activity.

From personal motivations to major organisational milestones, uncover why social impact is the key to driving purpose, belonging, and long-term success – within the organisation and beyond.

BLD: Let’s start at the beginning – what sparked your personal passion to pursue CSR as a professional career?

KHR: My passion for impact actually began in university! I studied Sociology and Criminology - which focused on why people are the way they are and the reasons they might commit a crime. I realised that most of the things we do in society are driven by our circumstances; and that understanding really sparked my desire to work in a role that contributed to improving people’s circumstances and therefore improving societal outcomes.