Air Partner introduces employee volunteering initiative
Air Partner is introducing an initiative that gives all of its UK employees one day off a year to volunteer for a charitable cause.
Staff can volunteer any day, anywhere, at any charity: it can be anything from rolling up your sleeves and giving someone a hand with their gardening to simply having a chat with someone over a cup of tea.
The launch of the initiative comes as Air Partner announces its chosen charities for the year, Chestnut Tree House and Macmillan Cancer Support. Chestnut Tree House is a local charity based in Arundel, West Sussex, which Air Partner has been supporting since 2013. Macmillan was chosen as the company’s national charity following a vote by employees.
Chestnut Tree House is a children’s charity providing hospice care services and community support for children and young people with progressive life-shortening conditions throughout East and West Sussex and South East Hampshire. Macmillan offers support to cancer sufferers across the UK, and is made up of millions of supporters, professionals, volunteers, campaigners and people affected by cancer. Macmillan’s aim is to make sure that they can provide support to everyone who needs it and to help people affected by cancer feel more in control of their lives.
Like all charities, both Chestnut Tree House and Macmillan rely almost entirely on donations to be able to carry out their incredible work. Less than 7% of Chestnut Tree’s funding comes from central government, while over 98% of Macmillan’s income comes from voluntary sources. Volunteers play a huge role at both charities, and initiatives such as the one introduced by Air Partner are a great way of encouraging people to volunteer and see what a difference it can make.
Air Partner has a whole host of fundraising events in the pipeline, ranging from coffee mornings and bake-offs to a sponsored skydive, bike ride to Paris and even a trek through Cambodia. All employees are being encouraged to get involved as the company seeks to raise as much money as possible for these incredibly worthwhile causes, and some are really going the extra mile: Ben Cupidi from the Freight team recently ran the Brighton marathon for Chestnut Tree House in a time of 4hr42min, raising over £950.
Terrina Barnes, Corporate Fundraising Manager for Chestnut Tree House, said: “I would like to thank Air Partner for their long term commitment and support. Since 2013 they have raised a significant amount of funds for the hospice, as well as donating valuable gifts for the children at the House. Air Partner sponsored one of our events as well as the staff donating their unwanted items to help stock our charity shops across Sussex. At Chestnut Tree House our goal is to provide the best quality of life for children, young people and their families. It costs well over £3.5 million each year to provide all our care services. We receive less than 7% from central government funding so we rely heavily on the generosity, help and support of the local community. If your company has been inspired by Air Partner and would like to get involved with supporting Chestnut Tree House, please contact the Corporate Fundraisers on 01903 871836 or corporate@chestnut-tree-house.org.uk to find out more or visit www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/corporate.”
Emma Heley, Fundraising Manager - Surrey & Kent at Macmillan, said: “We are delighted that Air Partner has chosen Macmillan Cancer Support as their ‘Charity of the Year’ and we look forward to working closely with them during their fundraising endeavours. The money raised by staff at Air Partner will make a big difference to the lives of people affected by cancer; for example, £4,418 could pay for a Macmillan nurse for a month, helping people living with cancer and their families receive essential medical, practical and emotional support.”