HSBC UK Contact Centre (HBEU), home to Malta's largest number of contact centre employees, raised a whopping €17,312 in staff donations for a range charities and community projects in the first six months of 2014.Rallying behind the call to action issued by the Centre to become socially involved, staff contributed in a variety of ways to support the missions of Ursuline Sisters Creche, The Hospice Malta, Dar il-Kaptan, Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (SPCA), Donna Europa, as well as a range of community projects, including a Helen O'Grady initiative.The Helen O'Grady Academy Developmental programme , for instance, saw HBEU support a class of children from marginalised communities who have very little motivation, or opportunity, to better themselves. "This is a remarkable development. We sponsor a total of 20 children who are committed to this project for two years. The children are now registering some excellent academic results and their progress has been duly noted by their school principal," said HBEU People Experience Manager Richard Powell. HBEU donated €4,275 to the cause in the scholastic year beginning October 2013. Meanwhile, Creche received €1,017, The Hospice Malta €949, Dar il-Kaptan €427, and SPCA €678, in what stands as a testament to the generosity of HBEU's staff. Between January and June 2014, a good number of staff took it upon themselves to organise in-house fundraising activities and monies were subsequently donated to Dar il-Providenza €412, a number of Homes for Orphaned Children €2066, Equal Partners €573, Inspire €475, Noah's Ark €218, Hospice €1045, and DO Cambodia €400.Beyond monetary fundraising, HBEU staff members have been energising various campaigns with their live support. A group of volunteers have spent numerous hours attending schools and giving talks about HSBC Bank Malta's three-year €500,000 "Catch the Drop" initiative on water conservation. "These volunteers have not only made use of the HBEU paid hours for volunteering  but also dedicated their own free time to make sure that the message is cascaded as planned.  We have also been running a number of campaigns and assisting HSBC Malta in raising €4,575 for WaterAid with which HSBC has partnered to improve water access and water hygiene to communities in Ghana," said Powell.  Separately, HBEU organised a weight loss challenge where staff joined by donating either €10 or €4. This led to a total collection of €300, which was donated to Malta Breast Cancer awareness group Europa Donna.