NATS goes the extra mile for UK charities
Employees at NATS have continued their support of local communities this last quarter, raising thousands of pounds for charity, getting behind causes and taking on personal challenges in support of others.
Support for NATS local site-selected charities was strong after a year of working collaboration. Colleagues organised clothing collections, skydives and a summer fete in aid of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA).
Sophie’s Legacy also received significant support, with fundraising efforts including a family day at NATS Swanwick Centre, a Three Peaks challenge and a Spitfire competition with funds being shared with the RAF Benevolent Fund.
In London, colleagues visited their chosen charity, The Connection at St Martins, taking part in an art therapy session and learning more about the organisation’s work to tackle homelessness in the capital.
One of the quarter’s most ambitious fundraising challenges saw outstations engineers, Rob Thick and Hadley Gibson, cycle more than 1,000 miles from Land’s End to Sumburgh Airport in Shetland over 10 days in July, raising more than £12,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
“The ride was in memory of our good friend and colleague Kieran who died last year from prostate cancer aged just 38,” said Rob. “As a tribute, we chose to cycle from Kieran’s most southerly site, Land’s End air navigation beacon, to the furthest north, Sumburgh air navigation beacon in the Shetlands.”
Hampshire-based employee, Richard Fell also helped to ‘spread’ awareness of prostate cancer and the importance of getting checked, by towing a salt spreader on local roads.
Support through internal funding
The NATS internal funding scheme, the Community Fund, awarded over £30,000 to 36 charities and community groups during Q2, including schools, animal sanctuaries, Scouting groups and youth sports teams.
The Community Fund also supported colleagues fundraising via match funding, with up to £1,000 being added to their own fundraising efforts going to each charity including Kilbryde Hospice, Maggie’s Centres, WellChild, Solent Mind, Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance and Cancer Research UK.
More than £73,000 was given to charity through NATS’ payroll giving programme, Give As You Earn. The scheme enables colleagues to donate regularly through their salary to any UK-registered charity.
The five charities receiving the most support from NATS employees through Give As You Earn in Q2 were:
- Sophie’s Legacy
