VodafoneThree and Santander have announced their new partnership with the National Emergencies Trust1 – the charity that brings the nation together when UK emergencies happen – raising vital funds and working with trusted local partners to support survivors and their loved ones.
As Patron Partners, Santander and VodafoneThree will support the development of a ‘Community Resilience Strategy’, helping communities across the UK take practical steps to prepare together for emergencies and be better able to respond and recover when they arise.
Recent events, from flooding and severe weather to wider economic and social pressures, have shown how important trusted local relationships, strong community networks and local leadership can be, as research reveals that every £1 invested in societal resilience can save £35.12 when disruptions hit every five years.2
During the Conwy Mountain wildfires this summer, local volunteers, businesses, the council and emergency services worked together to support evacuated residents, provide temporary accommodation, and get supplies to firefighters.
How will the Community Resilience Strategy be delivered?
The Community Resilience Strategy will be delivered in two phases. Santander is supporting the first phase of the strategy, which will establish a research-based blueprint for community resilience.
Led by the National Emergencies Trust, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, the research and evidence stage will involve identifying effective examples of community resilience from both the UK and internationally.
This will form the basis of an evidence-based blueprint and practical toolkit, which can be adapted and used by communities across the UK to strengthen the connections and capabilities that enable them to respond to disruption and recover more quickly when challenges arise.
VodafoneThree will fund the second phase, supporting the development and testing of the practical ‘Community Resilience Toolkit’ and dashboard.
Drawing on its expertise in connectivity, digital inclusion and emergency response, VodafoneThree will also explore how connectivity can help people access critical information, support and services before, during and after emergencies.
The toolkit will turn the initial research into practical tools that can be adapted and used locally.
Supporting communities during crises
The new programme recognises the important role communities already play in times of crisis.
It will build on the relationships, local knowledge and goodwill that already exist, with practical tools to help people prepare together and be ready to respond when it matters most.
At Santander, we believe strong communities are at the heart of social and economic resilience. Many communities across the UK already demonstrate remarkable strength, leadership and willingness to support one another when challenges arise. Our new partnership with the NET is about building on those strengths by helping communities access practical tools, shared learning and support that can strengthen resilience over time.
Fiona Hyde, Head of Sustainability, Santander UK
When communities face disruption, reliable connectivity and strong local relationships can make a real difference to how quickly people access support, share information and begin to recover. This partnership is about bringing organisations together to learn from what already works and turn that insight into practical support that communities across the UK can use. At VodafoneThree, we want to help build a country where communities are better connected, better prepared and more resilient.
Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Communications and Sustainability Officer, VodafoneThree
Communities are fantastic first responders. They are resourceful, compassionate and there long after the blue lights stop flashing. They know their neighbours, understand what their communities need and can be the difference between people simply getting through an emergency and beginning to recover. This partnership with Santander UK and VodafoneThree will help us build on that extraordinary strength, turning research and experience into practical tools that communities can use to prepare, respond and recover together.
Mhairi Sharp, CEO, National Emergencies Trust
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1 For more information visit: http://www.nationalemergenciestrust.org.uk/
2 National Consortium for Societal Resilience, The University of Manchester, February 2026: The value of investing in resilience | Alliance MBS
Notes to Editors:
About Santander UK
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK, helping people and businesses prosper. From buying a home to budgeting, saving and investing for the future, or growing their business, the bank offers a broad range of personal and commercial financial products and services designed around customers’ goals. Combining the convenience of digital banking with a human touch, Santander UK serves its customers via online and mobile banking, a nationwide branch network that includes seven Work Cafés, and a telephone service supported by tailored AI solutions to provide fast and effective support. As part of Banco Santander, one of the world’s biggest banking groups, Santander UK customers benefit from a locally focused UK bank, backed by global scale, technology platforms and security. In April 2026, Santander UK completed its acquisition of TSB Banking Group, the single largest investment in the UK banking sector for over 15 years, creating the third largest UK bank based on personal current account balances and fourth largest for mortgages. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the FCA and the PRA in the UK. Santander UK plc customers’ eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS in the UK.
About Banco Santander (SAN SM)
Banco Santander (SAN SM) is a leading commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain and one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. The group’s activities are consolidated into five global businesses: Retail & Commercial Banking, Openbank, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Wealth Management & Insurance and Payments. This operating model allows the bank to better leverage its unique combination of global scale and local leadership. Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. As of the end of June 2026, Banco Santander had €1.5 trillion in total funds, more than 182 million customers, 6,500 branches and 185,000 employees.
About The National Emergencies Trust
The National Emergencies Trust is an independent charity set up to raise funds from the public in the event of UK disasters such as floods, acts of terror and major accidents. When a disaster occurs, the National Emergencies Trust acts fast to launch a nationwide appeal that can meet the immediate and longer-term needs of those impacted. It collaborates with charities and other bodies to raise funds and distribute them fast and fairly. Appeal funds are allocated as financial gifts for those affected and may also be distributed as grants to local and national charitable organisations that can offer support. During its £100million Coronavirus Appeal, the Trust allocated more than 15,000 grants to voluntary sector charities and groups across the UK.
Survivors are at the heart of the Trust’s work, with their experiences helping to shape positive change for people affected by future emergencies. Alongside this, the Trust brings together communities and partners from government, the charity sector and emergency services to strengthen how the UK prepares for, responds to and recovers from both local and national emergencies.
