After a 12-month partnership between Reading Buses and Red Balloon Learner Centres, the charity has received a cheque for £12,985.
Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer Martijn Gilbert says: “We are committed to giving our charity of the year a visible presence around town in the shape of a bus wrapped in an advert for their organisation.
“Red Balloon took full advantage of this and produced a very striking design to alert people to their charity. This was then supported by other promotional activities such as inside our buses, on our website and using our considerable social media presence.”
Martijn added that as a local company they had a strong alignment to the communities they served and a duty to help promote local charities.
“We are one of the biggest, and most visible, employers in the town and like to support the good work of through our ‘Charity of the Year’ focus and help them grow.
“Our employees love getting behind important local causes and have played a very important part in our fundraising activities. It’s also great for team building.”
The end of the partnership was marked with a photo in front of the bus and then speeches from both Martijn and Fran Miller, trustee of Red Balloon.
The activity of the year was highlighted with Reading Buses having held internal raffles, competitions and cake sales as well as some employees running races to raise money.
They also reflected on the record-breaking Reading Buses open day last June that raised over £8,500 for the charity fund as well as raising further awareness.