Red Funnel invites customers and Island community to vote for its next Charity of the Year

Red Funnel has opened the public vote for it’s annual Charity of the Year programme. Three charities all contending for the 2025 title have been shortlisted by Red Funnel following an internal review and staff vote. Making the shortlist: 

• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance 
• Wessex Cancer Support, Isle of Wight
• The Wight Brainy Bunch 

Since beginning its Charity of the Year programme back in 2015, Red Funnel has invited local charities to partake in an annual application process, in the hopes of becoming the company’s featured charity partner for the upcoming year. 

Fran Collins, CEO at Red Funnel, said: "This is always such a special time of year for us, as we invite our customers and the wider Island community to help choose our next Charity of the Year. Supporting local causes is something we deeply value and take immense pride in, and it’s humbling to see the incredible work being done by so many inspiring organisations.

"I want to extend heartfelt thanks to all 39 charities who applied this year. Their passion and dedication to making a difference is truly remarkable. To the three shortlisted charities, we wish you the very best of luck, and we look forward to an exciting year ahead, championing the chosen charity and the vital work they do for our community."

The coming vote marks the first occasion whereby a former Red Funnel Charity of the Year has made it to the public vote. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was Red Funnel’s third ever Charity of the Year, holding the title in 2016, and generating £55,000 in support.

To cast your vote for Red Funnel's 2025 Charity of The Year, visit: www.redfunnel.co.uk/vote

About the charities: 

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance 
Provides critical, life-saving medical care to people across the region, ensuring rapid response to emergencies and trauma incidents. Their highly skilled team reaches patients quickly, especially in remote or challenging locations, where conventional emergency services may struggle. This service not only saves lives but also offers peace of mind to residents and visitors, knowing help is close at hand. The charity relies on community support and donations to continue its vital work, making it an essential pillar of regional emergency healthcare. For more information, visit: https://www.hiowaa.org/

The Wight Brainy Bunch 
Provides emotional support and financial assistance to IOW families affected by brain tumours by funding services such as travel for appointments and treatment, counselling, access to grants to assist towards loss of earnings, specialist equipment, physiotherapy to aid mobility, cognitive therapy to aid rehabilitation, and therapeutic acupuncture. In addition, the charity helps facilitate short breaks and memory-making experiences for those in need of respite care or with a terminal diagnosis, and assists families during treatment, including those experiencing bereavement. For more information, visit: https://www.thewightbrainybunch.org.uk

Wessex Cancer Support, Isle of Wight
“It’s cancer.” In England, 900 people will hear that diagnosis today. At Wessex Cancer Support, Isle of Wight, we offer counselling, complementary therapies, support groups and more, for people with any type of cancer and their loved ones. We recognise that everyone’s experience is different and we provide a safe and welcoming space directly in your community. Services are also available online for people who are struggling to travel to a centre.  In addition, the charity’s ‘Daisy Buses’ provide more than 12,000 journeys every year for Islanders travelling to the mainland for hospital treatment. It is a charity which relies entirely on donations to support thousands of people every year. For more information, visit: https://www.wessexcancer.org.uk/support-services/isle-of-wight/

Over 2024, Red Funnel has supported its current Charity of the Year, The Isle of Wight Foodbank, who serves to support those struggling with food poverty and short-term crisis on the Isle of Wight. To date, the Red Funnel colleagues and customers have raised over £22,000 in cash donations, in addition to physical food collections and other in-kind support.

Red Funnel’s former charities of the year, amassing over £400,000 in support have included: 

• 2015 - UKSA
• 2016 - Ability Dogs 4 Young People
• 2017 – Hampshire and IOW Air Ambulance 
• 2018 – IOW Donkey Sanctuary
• 2019 – Mountbatten IOW
• 2020 – LEAF Foundation (Monkey Haven) & Daisy Chains
• 2021 – IOW Independent Lifeboats
• 2022 – Young Lives vs. Cancer
• 2023 – Aspire
• 2024 – The IOW Foodbank