Arriva UK Bus has donated the over £267,000 generated by its COVID-safe exact fare policy to NHS Charities Together.
The exact fare policy was introduced by Arriva in April 2020 to reduce hand-to-hand contact between customers and drivers. It was accompanied by what the group describes as “an extensive communications campaign” encouraging passengers to use contactless payment methods wherever possible. Arriva then announced that all overpayments would go to an NHS charity.
NHS Charities Together is a national charity made up of 240 NHS charity members. Its aim is to fund projects that improve services for patients and that help NHS staff and volunteers both practically and emotionally so that they can continue their essential work.
Arriva UK Bus Managing Director Paul O’Neil (pictured, right) made the donation – of £267,840.72 – to Head of Corporate Partnerships at NHS Charities Together Justine Davy (pictured, left). The group has also marked its appreciation of all key workers – including its own drivers – by applying a special livery to an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 at its Derby depot.
Says Paul: “Giving something back to the NHS in the wake of the pandemic seems absolutely the right thing to do. We are proud to make this significant donation in recognition of the extraordinary dedication and commitment of those who looked after us.
“We are happy to see that what started as a COVID-safe policy has seen our customers raise such a tremendous amount for the NHS. I am sure that they will be heartened that this money will go to such a fantastic cause. It goes without saying that everyone at the NHS, our drivers and all [other] key workers have done an incredible job in unbelievably tough circumstances.”
Adds Justine: “We are incredibly humbled by this show of support from Arriva and its customers. The figure raised for NHS Charities Together with the no change policy will help us to continue our support for NHS staff, patients and volunteers as we move towards a brighter future.”
