British Airways raised over half a million pounds for Flying Start
- Since March 2020 British Airways’ customers and colleagues have raised over £500,000 for Flying Start, the airline’s global partnership with Comic Relief
- To celebrate and thank its customers and colleagues, the airline has teamed up with a host of celebrities to create a virtual flight for Red Nose Day
- Stars showing their support include Alison Hammond, Claudia Winkleman, Judi Love, Katherine Ryan, Mark Wright, Russell Kane and Vernon Kay
London, UK, 2021-Mar-18 — /Travel PR News/ — Despite a very limited number of flights over the last year, British Airways has managed to raise over half a million pounds for Flying Start, the airline’s global charity partnership with Comic Relief, through generous onboard customer donations and colleague fundraising.
These vital funds will support people in the UK and around the world, and help tackle hunger, homelessness, domestic abuse and mental health stigma. This year, Red Nose Day is all about showing just how powerful humour can be through the toughest of times and aims to raise smiles while raising money for those who need it most. To celebrate the generosity and fundraising efforts of its customers and colleagues, British Airways has teamed up with Comic Relief celebrity supporters including Alison Hammond, Claudia Winkleman, Judi Love, Katherine Ryan, Mark Wright, Russell Kane and Vernon Kay in a virtual BA flight at home for Red Nose Day.
Carrie Harris, Head of Sustainability, said: “The funds raised for Flying Start this year are testament to the unwavering generosity of our customers and the hard work from our colleagues in what has been a very turbulent year. We are proud of our longstanding partnership with Comic Relief and the hard work of everyone to help make a difference and change the lives of those in the UK and around the world who need it most.
We wanted to celebrate this milestone by creating a fun video playing on the nostalgia of flying which we hope will put a smile on our customers’ faces. And when travel becomes a reality again, we look forward to welcoming everybody back to the skies – with a warm smile, of course.”
Customers can also donate by visiting http://www.ba-flyingstart.com/
Since the Flying Start partnership with Comic Relief began in 2010, British Airways customers and colleagues have raised over £25 million. These vital donations have supported more than 824,000 people in the UK and some of the world’s poorest communities. British Airways continues to help young people in the UK and around the world to have the best possible start in life and the chance to have a brighter future.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Flying Start
Flying Start is the global charity partnership between British Airways and Comic Relief.
British Airways wants to help young people in the UK and around the world to have the best possible start in life and the chance to have a brighter future.
British Airways customers and colleagues have raised over £25 million since the partnership began in 2010. These vital donations have supported more than 824,000 people in the UK and some of the world’s poorest communities. More information can be found at http://www.ba-flyingstart.com/
About Comic Relief
Comic Relief raises money to support people living incredibly tough lives. Through humour and stories of hope, we’ve shown that people can make a massive difference. We fund hundreds of amazing organisations who are working on the ground to support the most vulnerable people and communities in society including many of those hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis. This includes vulnerable children and young people, people who are homeless or who have been forced to flee their homes, women and families at risk of domestic abuse and those struggling with existing or new mental health problems.
For information about Comic Relief and the work it carries out, please visit www.comicrelief.com
Comic Relief, which is the operating name of Charity Projects, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland).
About Red Nose Day 2021
Red Nose Day is back on Friday 19th March 2021 and will aim to bring the UK together to show just how powerful humour can be through the toughest of times. The theme of this year’s Red Nose Day is Funny is Power – this campaign is all about empowering people to do good through humour, fun, and laughter. We want to show how funny can be so much more than we think, and how even the smallest action can have an impact when we are all united as a force for good.
It has never felt more important to raise smiles and money for those who are struggling more than ever, as the continued impact of COVID-19 brings unprecedented challenges to many.
The money raised by Red Nose Day will support people in the UK and around the world, and help tackle hunger, homelessness, domestic abuse and mental health stigma. Visit https://www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday or follow @ComicRelief on social media for the latest Red Nose Day content, news and information.
Red Nose Day is an initiative of Comic Relief.
Contact Details:
For more information please contact press.office@ba.com.
Source: British Airways
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