Barclays Bank announcing its partnership with Magic Bus

Barclays Bank announced its partnership with Magic Bus to empower the lives of the underprivileged youth through a donation of Rs 10.45 lacs. Magic Bus, a ten year old non-profit organization, uses the unique platform of football to enhance the personal, social and employability skills of the marginalised youth community in Mumbai.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Vinit Chandra, Chief Executive, Barclays Global retail Bank, Emerging Markets, said, “The Barclays brand has been synonymous with football for several years through our sponsorship of the Premier League. Football is the world’s game, which brings people from all over the globe together. No matter where you come from, football acts as a universal language that billions share. Our partnership with Magic Bus enables us to use this language to reach out to the underprivileged and we are confident that it will uncover future professionals who will make their country proud. We wish our football hopefuls the very best as they strive to reach the top of their game.”

Through this partnership, Barclays will initially support 25 children who will constitute the Barclays Magic Bus Football team.

Over the past decade, Magic Bus, has ignited the passion for football in over 250 children and created stars out of many of them. Many of these children have played professional level matches and some of them are now coaches across schools in Mumbai.

Mathew Spacie, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Magic Bus, expressed his gratitude at the official kick-off of the partnership and said, “This is a great partnership. Our association with Barclays will not only help enhance the skills of our youngsters in the Magic Bus Football Team but also help cascade our values of Awareness, Belief and Purpose."

To master football and live a life with dignity and respect, the Magic Bus team undertakes a rigorous training programme and also teaches students the art of decisions making, crafting strategy and inculcating leadership skills. 

Youth have always been easy targets and are vulnerable to crime and drug abuse, but Magic Bus’ exclusive program imbibes a sense of purpose and aspiration. With this new vision and mission in life children no longer choose the wrong path.  

In addition, the Barclays team will have various opportunities to volunteer with these children through Magic Bus. The volunteers will play exhibition matches, groom the talented children through the role model mantle. In addition Barclays volunteers will mentor and train these children by organizing special programs to help them play and win matches at various professional levels and also impart skills on financial management, leadership and decision making.

About Barclays Global Retail Banking
Barclays Global Retail Banking (GRB) encompasses all of Barclays retail banking businesses around the world. Operating in 26 countries, Barclays GRB comprises UK Retail Banking, Barclaycard, and the retail banking and card businesses in Western Europe and Emerging Markets. Barclays GRB serves 38 million customers around the globe through a network of more than 3,700 distribution points.

To find out more about the individual Barclays GRB businesses, please visit our website: www.barclays.com.

About Barclays
Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services, with an extensive international presence in Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia.

With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs over 140,000 people.

Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for over 49 million customers and clients worldwide.

For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com.