Last call for Red Funnel charity of the year, 2023 applications

1 NOVEMBER 2022, Isle of Wight: Red Funnel is putting out a ‘last call’ for charities to submit applications for its Charity of the Year programme. Every year Red Funnel, together with its staff and customers select a charity to benefit as the primary recipient of Red Funnel’s fundraising efforts, along with added marketing and PR support to boost the charity’s profile and raise awareness about the important work they do.

While Red Funnel has already contacted those charities who previously applied or expressed interest, the operator wants to ensure that no stone left unturned.  To apply, organisations must be a registered charity, have been in operation on the Isle of Wight for at least 12 months and support the local Island community – helping to improve quality of life of create opportunities for residents.

Applications will be shortlisted by Red Funnel colleagues, after which the top three will be voted for amongst Red Funnel customers and the wider Island community. The charity with the most votes will be named Red Funnel’s Charity of the Year, 2023.

Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, said: “Helping the Isle of Wight community is important to us, which is why each year we support a fantastic local charity voted for by the public and Red Funnel staff. While we will continue to support many charities throughout the coming year, our Charity of the Year will benefit from being the recipient of our active fundraising efforts and work closely with our team on a variety of initiatives, ranging from bespoke fundraising efforts to initiatives designed to elevate awareness and profile for their charity.”

Starting back in 2015, with UKSA, the programme has seen Red Funnel support a wide variety of charities, raising over £300,000 together with its staff and customers.

Red Funnel’s 2022 Charity of the Year is Young Lives vs Cancer. The charity provides support for young people living with cancer and supports families in dealing with the challenges cancer brings.

Charities still interested in applying to become Red Funnel’s Charity of the Year, 2023 can apply online via Red Funnel’s website, by end of day, Monday, 7 November 2022.

To apply now, see here

Former Red Funnel Charites of the Year:

• 2021 – IOW Independent Lifeboats (Freshwater, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin)
• 2020 – LEAF Foundation (Monkey Haven) & Daisy Chains
• 2019 – Mountbatten Isle of Wight
• 2018 – Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
• 2017 – Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance
• 2016 – Ability Dogs 4 Young People
• 2015 – UKSA
   

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For further information, please contact [email protected] / 077 7665 1461

Notes to editors

About Red Funnel
Red Funnel is the original Isle of Wight ferry company with roots tracing back to 1820. Based in the UK port of Southampton, Red Funnel carries 2.3m passengers and over 800,000 vehicles on its ferry route between the UK port of Southampton and East Cowes and 1.1m passengers between Southampton and West Cowes on its Red Jet Hi-Speed service.

In addition to ferry travel, Red Funnel is the only cross-Solent operator to offer ferry inclusive bonded holiday accommodation, attraction tickets, festival and event tickets and activity packages. Sub-brands include ‘Red Jet’ (the Hi-Speed passenger only ferry service serving West Cowes) and its on board café, ‘ReFuel’.

The Company is a founder member of Visit Isle of Wight Ltd, the Island’s not for profit destination management organisation and Red Funnel sponsors or supports most of the Island’s premier events including the IW Festival, Cowes Week, Rhythm Tree, Wight Proms, and Walk the Wight as well as a range of community and niche interest events. Red Funnel’s Charity of the Year, 2022 is Young Lives vs. Cancer.

For more information, visit www.redfunnel.co.uk.