British Airways has launched its new community-based initiative, the BA Better World Community Fund.
The fund, which is part of the airline’s BA Better World sustainability programme, will further support organisations and projects that have a positive impact in communities within the UK, enabling British Airways to support projects that deliver benefits for climate, communities, colleagues and nature, all of which align with its sustainability aims. It also enables British Airways to deploy its people and resources to help communities affected by crisis.
The BA Better World Community Fund invites charities and social enterprise groups to apply for funding from the airline via Crowdfunder here, where applications will be reviewed and selected by the Community Governance Board*. Organisations can apply for funds and allocation will be set against criteria that match the sustainability aims of the airline’s BA Better World programme, which includes championing diversity, inclusion and wellbeing, tackling climate change, engaging colleagues in positive action and supporting communities around the world.
Organisations can use the funding to further create a positive impact in their communities, such as by developing a new approach, product or technology, implementing a new initiative or even by expanding existing services to a new area to reach more people.
British Airways has kickstarted the launch by selecting four organisations for its first round of funding through this process, including Fantasy Wings, Global Grooves, Energy Garden and Black2Nature. These projects deliver many benefits, including increasing diversity in the aviation industry, bringing inspirational Carnival arts from around the world to communities in the UK and globally, installing green spaces in London’s urban areas and organising nature camps in the countryside for young people from visible minority ethnic backgrounds.
Lisa Tremble, Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability and Chair of the Community Governance Board at British Airways said: “We are really proud to launch this exciting initiative, and as the nation’s flagship carrier airline we know how important it is to continue to connect with and invest in communities.
“We have supported our colleagues and customers in charitable giving for decades and look forward to doing even more to make a difference and offer life-changing opportunities to many community-led projects in the UK.”
Simon Deverell, Founder and Creative Director at Crowdfunder said: “We are delighted to be powering BA's Community Fund programme. At Crowdfunder, we believe it's hugely important to connect corporates with communities and bring impactful funding opportunities to those who wouldn't otherwise receive them. We look forward to seeing the amazing projects that will become possible through this fund.”
British Airways has supported community-led initiatives across the UK and around the world for more than thirty years and this new Community Fund adds another important element to the airline’s portfolio of community support.
The new Community Fund complements the airline’s Flying Start programme, the airline’s global charity partnership with Comic Relief that has raised more than £26 million since it first began in 2010, helping more than 925,000 people in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the UK and around the world. British Airways has offered colleagues the opportunity to donate to any charity of their choice through its Payroll Giving scheme. It has also worked with the Disaster’s Emergency Committee in times of crisis, including providing continued support for the Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal and flew 45 tonnes of medical aid to India during the height of the pandemic last year.
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