Staff gathered at ethical lender Charity Bank to celebrate its 15th birthday.

Its 47 staff based at its headquarters in Fosse House on Tonbridge High Street cut a cake on Wednesday marking its journey from a small pilot fund to a savings and loans bank.

“Fifteen years ago we began our journey as an independent ethical bank, providing loans to charities and social enterprises with the support of our very first savers,” said chief executive Patrick Crawford.

“Since then we have provided over £195 million of loan finance to social sector organisations, touching the lives of more than one million people.

“Our goal is to provide more loans to more organisations working to enrich and improve society.

“To achieve this, we also need to attract more savers.

“This is why we are expanding our deposits range and inviting more individuals and organisations to open a Charity Bank savings account and use their money as a force for good.”

Charity Bank, which employs 65 people nationwide, has provided loans to 22 organisations across Kent and East Sussex.

This includes Folkestone Sports Centre Trust, which gained funding from the bank to complete the first phase of a major renovation and helped to attract funding for the project’s next phase.