Charity & Community

We aim as a company to encourage and increase social wellbeing through our charitable efforts and support to our community.

With direct links to Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, we are able to communicate the pro-social activities within the Virgin worldwide network as well as the initiatives within Virgin Balloon Flights. Through sharing best practice with internal and external experts, we aim to encourage positive work within our business, ensuring all of our employees have the opportunity to use our business as a force for good.

Here are some of our best bits:

Virgin London Marathon

2011 saw the first year Virgin Balloon Flights put their fundraising efforts into backing The Virgin London Marathon. With parties, raffles and running vest sponsorship, not to mention staff skydives, silences and running to name but a few of our fundraising channels, the race to raise money for our chosen charity Hope House Children’s Hospices began. The total of £7,811, was collected through our marathon campaign, which will pay for a whole year of fun trips and excursions for terminally ill children who visit the hospices.

Mandela Day

Nelson Mandela’s constant commitment to humanitarian rights inspired Sir Richard Branson and the team here at Virgin Balloon Flights to give something back to our communities and we’ve been taking part in ‘Mandela Day’ through Virgin Unite. With a value of just over £4,000 from Virgin Balloon Flights in terms of time, cash and stuff over just two days (2010 & 2011), Mandela Day is an important tool for helping our local community and charitable causes through an initiative that is recognised worldwide. Each year we encourage all our staff to do their bit, collectively building a network of volunteers.

Making a Difference Daily

As part of Virgin Unite’s Business Champion and Insiders networks, both aimed at ensuring Virgin businesses continue to use the brand as a force for good, Virgin Balloon Flights are tracked on a monthly basis for our donations in terms of cash, time and stuff. In 2011 so far we have donated a mammoth value of just over £27,000 assisting over 100 charities and charitable projects. It’s not always just cash that a charity is seeking and we were lucky enough to be part of a ‘hit squad’ for the Starlight Children’s Foundation giving our time and knowledge to help them build a brighter future for seriously and terminally ill children.

Supporting others forms part of our core brand values here at Virgin Balloon Flights and we aim to build on our donations year on year.