Community Support
Working with the local community is very important to us. Our CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) values are made up of the following principles: 1. shared responsibility, 2. openness and accountability, 3. continuous improvement, 4. compliance, 5. working with communities and 6. care and consideration.
Charity of the Year: Aspire
Our 2023 Charity of the Year is Aspire, voted for by Red Funnel colleagues, customers and the Isle of Wight community.
Aspire have been a growing Island charity for several years and now operate services across the island and in partnership with the IW county council and other voluntary sector partners. They provide support to the community in several ways, particularly providing spaces and groups in which people can meet, grow and enhance their friendships and social networks.
Services are wide and varied ranging from the group’s ‘Creative Hub’, which offers space for band rehearsals, graphic design and editing and production studio, to sewing, upcycling and craft groups, gardening clubs, mental health surfing groups and young peoples football clubs to community café’s, warm hub and soft play to even running the UK’s first escape room inside the crypt of an old church. All profits from the room go back into supporting Aspire’s community efforts.
Any customers making a booking with us between now and the end of 2023 will be able to donate at checkout or customers can make donations between £1 - £20 via the ‘Donate’ button below. All donations made will go to Aspire Ryde.
Community Sponsorship & Event Support
We are proud to sponsor and support a diverse range of events and festivals held on the Isle of Wight each year, as well as a number of community initiatives such as Walk the Wight, local sports teams and many more. Sponsorship opportunities for 2023 will open soon – please check back for more information! Email us with any enquiries.
Our current sponsorship roster includes the following organisations.
Isle of Wight Arts Open Studios
We have supported Isle of Wight Arts Open Studios since 2011.
Ventnor Fringe
We have supported Ventnor Fringe Festival.
Cowes Week
We proudly sponsor the Cowes Fireworks at the largest sailing regatta in the world.
Daisy Chains
We proudly support our 2020 Charity of the Year, Daisy Chains IOW.
Isle of Wight Festival
Since 2002, we have proudly provided significant travel support for the production of the IOW festival and discounted travel for concessions and artists. We are also an official ticket agent.
Island Highland Gathering
We provide travel support for the production and artists performing at the Island Highland Gathering for a number of years.
Jack Up The Summer
We have provided travel support for the production of Jack Up The Summer and discounted travel for concessions and artists.
Walk the Wight
We proudly sponsor Walk the Wight for Mountbatten Isle of Wight. We have also offered discounted rates for participants.
Ventnor Rugby Club
We have provided travel support for the players of Ventnor Rugby Club so that they can play in away games.
Charitable Support
In addition to our Charity of the Year fundraising initiatives, we work with and support a wide range of charities on an ongoing basis.
Ability Dogs for Young People (Red Funnel Charity of the Year 2016)
Ability Dogs 4 Young People is an Isle of Wight charity (started April 2012), training assistance dogs to enhance the independence of disabled young people and children living on the Isle of Wight
Age UK IoW
The country's largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life
Brainstrust
a proactive young brain tumour charity that supports people living with a brain tumour in the UK. Updating treatment - Improving care - Saving lives
Breathe Easy IoW
Supports anyone on the Island living with a chronic lung condition.
Challenge and Adventure
works with young people aged 12 to 19 and uses adventurous and challenging outdoor activities alongside tailored support to help raise their confidence, self esteem and aspirations
Children's Air Ambulance
Helps critically ill children fly across the UK to the specialist care they need
Daisy Chains
Helps Isle of Wight children with long term health problems, a life limiting condition or a disability.
Dementia UK
Admiral Nurses work hand in hand with families in the Isle of Wight, helping them cope with the fear, uncertainty and difficult everyday reality of dementia by providing compassionate expert support.
Earl Mountbatten Hospice
Provides hospice care to patients with life-limiting conditions and their families on the Isle of Wight. Walk the Wight raises thousands of pounds every year to support this cause.
Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust
Aims to support, empower and enliven children suffering from cancer or leukaemia by introducing them to the joys of sailing on the sea
Girl Guiding IoW
Organises events, adventures and regular meetings which empower girls to be their best and become confident women
Gus McKechnie
A disabled athlete who was born with congenital cerebral palsy/hemiparesis. He is also a prolific event organiser and fundraiser, on a mission to cycle 50,000 miles and take on life changing challenges
HIOW Wildlife Trust
Cares passionately about wildlife for its intrinsic value and also the value that it provides through ‘ecosystem’ services, offering benefits to our health and wellbeing as well as the economy
IoW Ramblers
Are passionate about getting more people walking as part of a healthy lifestyle, for sustainable transport and as a way of enjoying their local communities
IoW Red Squirrel Trust
Is an Isle of Wight based charity comprising of a group of dedicated people committed to the protection and survival of our native red squirrels, their habitat and the species that share it with them
IoW Search and Rescue
Provides skilled volunteers to assist Hampshire Constabulary and other agencies in searches for vulnerable missing persons on the Isle of Wight
IoW Youth Trust
Offers counselling, advice, information and support services to young people under 25 on the Isle of Wight and, in some cases their parents or carers.
Joe Ellis Trust
Helps Isle of Wight children who have cancer and their families in their time of need.
John's Club
Is a well-respected and established Island charity, dedicated to providing social and leisure activities to vulnerable people aged 15+ with special needs, learning and physical disabilities
Layla's Trust
Seeks to provide support for bereaved families who have lost children and to families who have disabled or terminally ill children.
Lullaby Trust
Promotes expert advice on safer baby sleep and provides special support for anyone bereaved through Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Naomi House & Jacksplace
Support children and young adults with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions in Central Southern England.
Quay Arts
Is the central creative hub for artists and communities on the Isle of Wight, whose aim is to transform the lives of individuals on the island and beyond by raising and enabling creative ambitions.
Sailors Society
Is an international Christian charity working in ports across the world. Sailor’s Society chaplains help seafarers and their families from all faiths and none with welfare and practical support. Red Funnel teams have been fundraising for the charity through the 3 Peaks Challenge for over 15 years
Saturday Club for Deaf Children
is dedicated to supporting the needs of Isle of Wight deaf children/young people and their families.
Seafarers UK
Is a charity that helps people in the maritime community, by providing vital funding to support seafarers in need and their families
Spot the Charity Bear
Works with Red Funnel staff to support fundraising activities for many charities and good causes.
St Catherine's
Speech and language team works with children and young people with speech, language and communication disabilities.
The Abbeyfield Society
Believes that older people deserve time and respect. The mission to provide the best service of care and housing for all residents, and to be a champion for older people
UKSA
Provides transformational opportunities for young people on the water to change their lives, both as a youth charity and as a centre of excellence for nautical professional development.
Ventnor Amateur Boxing Club
Promotes community participation in healthy recreation for the inhabitants of Ventnor in the Isle of Wight by the provision of facilities for amateur boxing and related fitness activities.
Wessex Cancer Trust
Offers support and counselling for people suffering with cancer
YMCA IoW
Is all about welcoming, listening, caring and inspiring, by helping young people and families to belong, contribute and thrive. In a busy world, the YMCA always makes time for the individuals who visit.
User Group Forums
We actively encourage our customers to make suggestions and ideas which will ultimately improve our business, our products and our services.
1. Customer User Groups
Would you like to join? We are always looking for new members to join our Customer User Group. The group meets quarterly to help shape future product enhancements, share ideas and facilitate improvements to our products and services. The group has previously helped us to: -
- Improve travel connections for Hi-Speed commuters – e.g. Quayconnect bus and Red Jet communications have improved to minimise onward disruption if either are delayed
- Enhance customer comfort onboard – e.g. amount of leg room at tables on Red Osprey increased during refurbishment
- Communicate more effectively – e.g. we’ve listened to the group regarding the type of information and service updates that are most useful to regular passengers
2. Accessibility Forum
This Forum meets once a quarter with customers who have either sight, hearing or mobility difficulties, to discuss areas which could be improved with the Customer Service Team and Health & Safety Managers.
The aims of the Accessibility Forum is: -
- To improve services to customers with disabilities
- Provide a forum to discuss and feedback on ideas, information and issues of concern regarding disability
- Ensure that the concerns and views of customers regarding disability have an effective channel for their expression
- Ensure that vital customer feedback is channelled to the relevant departments and officers
- Help us move to 50 berth to make sure we create a new accessible terminal for all.
- Provide a forum for individuals and organisations to meet, exchange information and establish contact
- Enable customers to engage creatively in finding solutions to problems, new ways of achieving the most effective use of resources to provide the best possible outcome for disabled customers and, where appropriate, their carers
To join either group or find out more, please email or call our Customer Services team on 02380 019192.