A huge thank you to Phoenix Group, Europe’s largest life and pensions consolidator, who are donating £50,000 to support our life-saving work as part of a UK-wide package of community support in response to Coronavirus.
Phoenix’s one-year partnership with us, which began in February 2019, was due to end this Spring, but given the important role that we are playing in providing front line care in the face of Coronavirus, Phoenix is now extending this to the end of 2020.
Andy Briggs, CEO, Phoenix Group comments:
“It is vital we recognise the life-saving efforts of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and the unprecedented demands for their service at this time. As our charity partner, it is our duty to donate and this small measure is part of our wider commitment to support communities across the UK battling the effects of COVID 19. At this time of economic and social uncertainty all charities are vulnerable and we urge financially able businesses to join us in providing Air Ambulance charities with a vital lifeline.”
Our CEO, Alex Lochrane, adds:
“Like so many charities struggling to keep their services going, we have had to stop all fundraising and community outreach activities and, as a result, we are expecting to see a significant drop in income. This generous donation from Phoenix Group will help us to carry on doing what we do best: saving lives. A heartfelt thank you to everyone at Phoenix Group for the tremendous support and dedication they have shown throughout our fantastic partnership.”
Earlier this month the Phoenix Group, which has offices in Basingstoke, announced it would be donating a total of £1 million to support the important work of charities, giving £500,000 of this to charitable organisations working in the communities where the Phoenix Group has regional premises. This includes three other local Air Ambulance Charities in the UK who are charity partners (Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and London’s Air Ambulance Charity) and ALONE in Ireland who supports older people.
A massive thank you to everyone at Phoenix Group who has made this possible.