Metro Bank initiative supports over 20 local charities

Metro Bank in Brighton is the founder of a successful local pool league for professionals. Now in its second year, the league has supported more than 20 different charities in Brighton and the surrounding area.

The final of the league is traditionally a charity competition, organised by Metro Bank in association with FirmBalls, which runs networking events though sport.

In late 2017, Brian Quinton, Local Director of Metro Bank in Brighton, had the idea to combine his two passions in life – local business and pool. With this in mind, at the start of 2018, Brian decided to use his network, developed through Metro Bank, to launch a local professionals’ pool league that would raise money for local charities.

He found 11 other businesses to accompany Metro Bank – each donating per game, with the prize money being donated to the winning team’s chosen charity.

After a huge success and £5,000 being donated last year to Rockinghorse Children’s Charity, Martlets Hospice and Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice, Metro Bank decided to host the league again this year, in association with FirmBalls, opening the league to 26 teams.

The teams have been playing every 2nd Thursday of the month since January and the final round was staged at Castle Street Pool and Snooker Club.

Metro Bank and Elliotts Estate Agents won their respective leagues and top prizes of £2,500 for their charities. Metro Bank’s team chose to donate their prize to several charities including Teenage Cancer Trust, the Bank’s annual charity partner. Colleagues across the country have pledged to raise over £150,000 over 12 months.

Each team in the competition had their own charity of choice and all received charity donation prizes in relation to their league position, with the exception of last place who had a consolation prize courtesy of Metro Bank. The Bank also hosted a raffle alongside the competition to raise even more for local causes.

Brian Quinton said: ”It’s incredible to see the local businesses of Brighton take part in our professionals’ pool league again this year.

“The league is a fantastic opportunity for local businesspeople to network, have fun and raise money for worthy causes.

“We’re thrilled to have seen even more businesses join in the fun this year, and we hope this will continue in the future.”

Sam Thomas, Managing Director at FirmBalls, who partnered with Metro Bank on the competition, added: ”It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Metro Bank to put on a fantastic pool league for local charities. Well done to all the teams involved and we look forward to continuing to run this amazing networking and fundraising event.”

Metro Bank, known for its exceptional customer service, which opened in Brighton in February 2015, prides itself on helping the local communities it serves.

Last year, Metro Bank stores across England supported more than 3,500 community and in-store events, such as business networking sessions, local fairs, charity events, and the bank’s free financial education programme for children, Money Zone.