Red Funnel announces Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance as its Charity of the Year, 2025

Red Funnel has today announced that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) will be the company’s Charity of the Year for the duration of 2025.  

The announcement follows the results of a vote by the Isle of Wight community, Red Funnel colleagues and customers. Wessex Cancer Support, IOW and The Wight Brainy were also shortlisted, following a review of 39 charities who submitted applications. 

Since the ferry operator began its Charity of the Year programme in 2015 it has raised over £400,000 in support of causes impacting the Island community. Notably, HIOWAA was Red Funnel’s third ever Charity of the Year back in 2017. 

HIOWAA brings the hospital to the patient. Its highly skilled teams of doctors, dispatchers, pilots and paramedics respond to an average of five patients every day - be it a cardiac arrest, a road traffic collision or a serious medical episode. 

The charity has responded to almost 2,500 emergency callouts this year alone - more than 20,000 in its 17-year history. Each mission is funded entirely by the kindness and generosity from people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. 

Fran Collins, Chief Executive of Red Funnel, said: “We are delighted to announce Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance as our Charity of the Year for the second time. The emergency service they provide to the Island community is of vital importance, so we’re very proud to play a part in supporting the critical work they do. 

“Over the next 12 months, our colleagues at Red Funnel will be working with HIOWAA on a series of ongoing fundraising and awareness campaigns. This follows a busy year supporting our outgoing Charity of the Year, the Isle of Wight Foodbank.”

Keith Wilson, HIOWAA Director of Income and Engagement, said: "We’re incredibly grateful to the many people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight who recognise the lifeline our service provides for the most critically ill and injured people. Their support of Red Funnel’s fundraising initiatives will make a huge difference to our service, our patients and their friends and families. We have exciting plans for Island residents in the pipeline, which will ensure patients have the best chance of survival and making a full recovery. Thank you to all the Red Funnel staff and customers who have voted for their local air ambulance.” 
With its flagship Dash in the Dark 5km event and CPR Skills for Life programme, there are plenty of opportunities for Hampshire and Island residents to get involved in events, fundraising and volunteering opportunities to suit all ages and interests. 

Operation Airbase Appeal 
In February, HIOWAA announced plans to centralise their operating base. Currently, the critical care team operate from the airbase in Thruxton, Andover – in the northwest of the county, and the charity team are based in Nursling, Southampton. The charity proposed to move to a site near Southampton Airport, bringing the charity and operation teams together under one roof, and crucially, bringing their life-saving service to the centre of where it sees the most activity, whereby they will be able to reduce total flight time, including getting to the south of Isle of Wight faster. 

Following the approval of their planning application in July, the charity is now fundraising for £3.6 million to rebuild and equip the site in George Curl Way to make it fit for operational purposes.

To learn more about Operation Airbase appeal, watch the video, here 
For more information about HIOWAA, see here 

-ENDS-