AND THE WINNERS ARE...
FIND OUT WHO SCOOPS A SHARE OF £20K AIRBUS CASH:
TEN brilliant Bristol community groups have won a share of £20,000 after thousands of votes flooded in for the Airbus Community Awards 2020.
Almost 50 groups and charities entered the awards, which launched at the start of the year in the Bristol Post.
Sadly, the awards had to be put on hold due to coronavirus, but we relaunched them last month and gave people the opportunity to vote for their favourite groups on our website Bristol Live.
And yesterday, in a virtual awards ceremony, the deserving winners were announced.
Taking first place, and a prize of £7,000, was Mama’s: Swaps & Freebies Bristol.
This group helps all families, providing aid for hundreds including the homeless and those in crisis. They host regular events to collect free items, give up hundreds of hours weekly and have raised money for similar supportive networks.
Kelsey Booy, from Mama’s Bristol CIC, gave an emotional speech on behalf of the winning group.
She said: “Such a massive thank you. This money is going to go so far. It’s going to help so many people. We hope to get set up with a home so we can speak to people who are vulnerable and in need.
“We have around 16,000 people who we can reach with this money and it’s the biggest thing that has happened to us, so we are so grateful.
“We’re really keen to work with other groups too so please pop us a message on Facebook. We all work so hard so well done to everyone.”
Second prize of £4,000 goes to North Bristol RFC.
The rugby club has two senior men’s sides, a women’s team, walking rugby and all age groups of boys and girls with more than 600 members in total. They strive to make it a community club and a place for everyone, holding regular charity events as well as local initiatives such as free bootcamps.
Third prize of £2,000 was awarded to Children’s Hospice South West.
Each hospice provides a loving and caring place, a home from home for every member of every family who stays with them.
Everyone can begin to forget their worries for a while, be a family again and find expert help and support with facing an uncertain future. The hospices are often filled with joy and laughter.
Hannah Hammond, from Airbus, introduced the Airbus Community Awards 2020. She said: “It really is the best part of my job, working with all of you and knowing what a great job you are doing in the community.
“As a company we have been firmly embedded in the community and the purpose of these awards is to celebrate the groups involved in the community.” The following seven groups have all won £1,000:
» Lifeskills
» Great Western Air Ambulance » Stapleton Cricket Club » Fromeside Gymnastics Club » Paul’s Place
» The Friends of St Stephens Infant School
» Grief Encounter South West
Airbus
There has been a proud aviation industry in Filton for over 100 years and today, Airbus in Filton is home to world class research, design, engineering and testing facilities for all current and future Airbus aircraft, including the A380 doubledecker and the latest generation of aircraft, the A350 XWB.
Proud of its heritage, Airbus is also proud to be active in its local communities, supporting and funding projects that promote skills in science, technology, engineering and maths, provide opportunities for young people to become involved in improving their communities, that raise environmental awareness and support vulnerable members of the community.
Through its Foundation, Airbus works with key stakeholders and communities worldwide to deliver humanitarian relief. Since 2008, the Airbus Foundation has carried out 73 relief and goodwill flights and delivered 999 tonnes of essential aid.
Through its Charity Challenge employee fundraising initiative, Airbus employees help to raise funds for five local partner charities - St Peter’s Hospice, Severn Freewheelers, Jessie May, Bristol Homeless and Headway Bristol.