About British Airways Community Investment
As a global airline, we bring communities and people together every day and we are committed to having a positive impact in the communities we fly to. Our support is focused on helping young people in the UK and around the world to have the best possible start in life, through our flagship Flying Start programme, a global partnership with Comic Relief.
Since June 2010 we have worked in partnership with Comic Relief to help give disadvantaged children and young people the chance to have a brighter future. So far, thanks to our customers and colleagues, we have raised over £25 million and reached more than 824,000 people.
In addition, we help communities respond in times of crisis internationally and in the UK. We work with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and other relief charities to ensure that vital relief gets to where it's needed as quickly as possible, helping to save lives and rebuild shattered communities.
We also help our colleagues support causes that are personal to them, through match funding and through our accredited Payroll Giving scheme.
Flying Start
“Together, we are creating the building blocks for a flying start in life.”
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.
During flights we encourage customers to donate any spare currency they may have. Alongside customer donations, our colleagues raise hundreds of thousands of pounds every year.
British Airways customers and colleagues have raised over £25 million since the partnership began in 2010 through onboard donations, sponsored events and challenges. These vital donations have supported more than 824,000 people in the UK and some of the world’s poorest communities.
Current seat back film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKDqP6hY82U
Flying Start achievements
Over the last two years (2019-2020) we have:
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Supported over 1,000 women and infants through community healthcare in South Africa to help prevent the transmission of HIV from expectant mothers to their babies, using peer support to ensure women living with HIV take up the recommended treatment and their children get the care they need. (To date, 10 mentor mothers have enrolled 828 women and 329 infants across two sites in the Gauteng region. The project aims to reach over 4,000 women and children by the end of 2020).
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In partnership with mothers2mothers, we have supported the set-up of new community-based health and education services in Ghana, which will be delivered from two health facility sites, Ashaiman Polyclinic and Atuah Government Hospital. mothers2mothers intends to reach over 11,000 women and children under three in its first two years of operation.
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Commenced support for project work in areas of Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur in India, which aims to reach an estimated 2,250 children over the next two years, with support to build life skills, overcome isolation and improve mental and physical health through children’s cooperatives.
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Donated £500,000 to support eight community projects across the UK (Belfast, Liverpool, Macclesfield, Llandudno, Stirling, Scottish Borders, Devon and Penzance) with a focus on early intervention by supporting maternal mental health and wellbeing and, in turn supporting positive mental health into parenthood.
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Donated £500k to support seven UK-based organisations (across London, Stockport & Thameside, Durham Tyne & Wear and Renfrewshire), supporting families with young children to help them reach their developmental potential up to their successful transition to primary school.
Our partnership with the Disasters Emergency Committee
We have worked in partnership with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) since 2013. The DEC brings 14 leading UK aid charities together in times of crisis. They launch appeals to raise money to help those impacted by disaster, making sure that funds reach those that need them most. Since 2013, colleagues and customers have raised £1.5million. The DEC responds to disasters in the world’s poorest countries, using a set of criteria to help them decide when to launch an appeal and how they can have the greatest impact. The DEC consists of member agencies who are experts in humanitarian aid, delivering the efficient disaster responses that those affected by disasters need.
Payroll Giving Programme
We are currently supporting over 3,700 colleagues to donate to 590 different causes through their payroll. This generates over £900,000 a year in charitable giving. We have recently been awarded Gold Accreditation for our Payroll Giving scheme.
Match Funding
In 2019 we launched our match giving scheme for colleagues, offering small grants to charities in recognition of colleagues’ personal fundraising and volunteering. 170 colleagues were recognised through the scheme, with a total of £39,975 awarded to 63 different causes, including Dreamflight, Marie Curie, Battersea Dogs Home, Shelter, Brain Research UK and many more.
Product Donation
We are able to donate a range of products to charitable organisations across the UK including items such as amenity kits, blankets and socks.
If you would like to find out more about our programmes or require excess baggage for charitable purposes please contact community.branch@ba.com
Download the Community Investment Report 2021 PDF here
