BNP PARIBAS PARTNER WITH THE SARACENS FOUNDATION – TRANSFORMING LIVES ON AND OFF THE FIELD
The Saracens Foundation are delighted to announce BNP Paribas as Project Partners for the long running ‘Get Onside – Feltham’ project.
After supporting the project with volunteers and fundraisers over the last four years, BNP Paribas teamed up with the Saracens Foundation as a ‘Project Partner’ – providing the crucial funding needed to support the Foundation to run the Get Onside – Feltham project.
BNP Paribas see ‘social mobility’ as a key tool in their ongoing commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and believe the partnership with the Saracens Foundation is a huge step towards these ambitions.
To celebrate the launch of the partnership, BNP Paribas held a launch event to talk about the Get Onside – Feltham project and hear from representatives from Saracens, a former graduate of the project, and former player / champion of the Get Onside project – Will Fraser.
In an emotional and thought-provoking call, recently released graduate of the project ‘D’, spoke about his time on the course: “I think the thing that sticks out for me the most is that I’ve been out of prison for nearly eight months now and I’m still involved in a course that I did for eight weeks… How much Saracens Foundation have done for me and my life; I wouldn’t be where I am now without Saracens… I could get a long way on my own, I could, but in that eight weeks it changed my life around.”
‘D’ also spoke about the need for private sector organizations like BNP Paribas to support initiatives like this one: “It’s only right for [the private sector] who are in a position to support and help to do that, because if you help someone else grow you help yourself grow. That’s just how life happens.”
As part of the Partnership, BNP Paribas staff will also be supporting the project through volunteering and mentoring on the upcoming courses at HMP Feltham. Making sure their impact goes further than just a financial contribution.
Nick Gourlay – Senior Development Manager for the Saracens Foundation says: “BNP Paribas have been keen supporters of our projects for a long time, so it’s great to be able to announce BNP Paribas as Project Partners with our Get Onside – Feltham project. The project is a reflection of everything we want to be at the Foundation and it’s great for an organization like BNP Paribas who have such similar values to come on board and support us in continuing the project. Without the support of BNP Paribas we would struggle to continue the work we’ve been doing in HMP Feltham which is so important in transforming the lives of some of the most vulnerable and marginalized people in our society.”