Phoenix Group, the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business, announces that it has donated over £1 million (£1,056,860.04) to London’s Air Ambulance Charity (LAAC) and Midlands Air Ambulance Charity since 2014. Phoenix’s charity partnership with LAAC was due to conclude in spring 2020 but Phoenix, which has offices in London, extended the partnership given the importance of the service during COVID 19.
LAAC has been dedicated to remaining on the front-line throughout the pandemic providing critical care to the most seriously ill and injured patients in the country. The charity delivers an advanced trauma team to critically injured people in London, performing innovative and potentially life-saving procedures on-scene that are usually found in the emergency department. Since 2014 Phoenix colleagues have donated both their time and skills to LAAC, raising money through a range of activity including sponsored sleep outs, abseiling, cycling, sky diving, three peaks challenges and runs.
While Phoenix’s successful partnership with LAAC has now come to a close, the company will still be supporting the service through a number of ongoing initiatives, including a forthcoming programme in London schools with LAAC supporting STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths education). The Phoenix logo will also be displayed on the LAAC helicopter, G-EHMS, in recognition of the Group’s support for the Charity over the past six years and its ongoing commitment to London.
Chief Executive of London’s Air Ambulance Charity Jonathan Jenkins said: “Our joint partnership with Phoenix Group has defied all expectations and we would like to say a heartfelt thanks to everyone at Phoenix for their incredible support over the past six years. This partnership has been fundamental to our development as a charity and their employees regularly go over and above in fundraising for us. The consistent commitment of Phoenix Group, their staff and their stakeholders has helped to keep us flying over the past six years and we are so grateful to them for helping us be there for London.”
Andy Moss, Phoenix Life CEO and Group Director, Heritage at Phoenix Group comments: “We’re extremely proud to have been a partner of London’s Air Ambulance Charity and to have raised funds and awareness for their life saving work. It has been a fantastic experience that we have all learned from. While our formal partnership has now come to an end, we remain passionate about their work and will continue to be involved as they keep flying for London.
“We know from our work with Air Ambulance charities across the UK that over the past year there have been far more call-outs as a result of mental health issues. Recognising the profound impact that the pandemic has had on the nation’s mental health, our colleagues were keen to focus their new charity partnership on mental health and have chosen Samaritans as their new UK charity partner.
“We’re really looking forward to working with our new charity partner over the next few years and ensuring that people always have someone to talk to if they are struggling to cope. Samaritans are always there to help anyone who is struggling to cope, not just at the moment of crisis, but to help prevent crisis too. We will be raising awareness and funds, donating time, sharing skills and making sure we learn even more about supporting mental wellbeing through our partnership.”
Samaritans, which has a London City hub and branches across the Capital, encourages anyone who is struggling to reach out and share how they are feeling. They continue to be there for everyone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
