Red Funnel sets sail to find its 2026 Charity of the Year partner

Isle of Wight ferry operator, Red Funnel, has officially opened applications for its 2026 Charity of the Year Partner. 

The cross-Solent ferry operator is inviting Isle of Wight charities of all sizes and causes that serve the Island community to apply for the chance to be its next charity partner, with applications closing on Sunday 9 November. Their chosen Charity of the Year for 2026 will be able to benefit from a range of fundraising activity, volunteer support from Red Funnel staff, and PR & marketing to help drive awareness.

The initiative forms part of Red Funnel’s ESG strategy, Changing Tides, showcasing its commitment to making a meaningful difference across the Isle of Wight community. Speaking on the opening of Red Funnel's annual Charity of the Year applications, CEO Fran Collins said: “As we enter the twelfth year of our charity programme, we feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with so many inspiring local charities over the years. Our customer and colleague donations, fundraising and volunteering continue to make a real difference and we’re proud to support the Island’s community. We’ve been delighted to partner with our 2025 Charity of the Year, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, and we’re excited to start the process to find our Charity of the Year for 2026.”

The application criteria for applying to be Red Funnel’s Charity of the Year are:

•    Must be a registered charity
•    Have been in operation for at least 12 months 
•    Support the Isle of Wight community, helping to improve quality of life, or creating opportunities for residents
•    Have an Isle of Wight based office or representative
•    Not held the title of Red Funnel Charity of the Year within the last 7 years

Interested charities should apply to Red Funnel’s Charity of the Year 2026 programme by Sunday 27 October, here: https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/community-support/apply

Red Funnel’s 2025 Charity of the Year is Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA), and together they have raised over £30,000. The fundraising comes at an important time for the charity, which looking to raise £3.6 million towards relocating its airbase to Southampton, helping to improve response times for patients across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The generosity of Red Funnel’s customers has played a big part in the total raised, with donations made online during travel bookings and via collection boxes across terminals and onboard. Red Funnel colleagues have also gone the extra mile for the partnership, taking on a range of fundraising initiatives, including The National 3 Peaks Challenge, which saw six members of the team climb three UK mountain peaks in just 24 hours, raising over £3,000.

Earlier this month, Red Funnel colleagues, including CEO Fran Collins, also took park in the ‘Dash in the Dark’ 5k fun run, helping to contribute to an incredible £25,000 raised through the event, an amount that could fund seven lifesaving missions in the future. These funds raised by Red Funnel staff and customers are already helping the charity’s expert teams, including doctors, dispatchers, pilots and paramedics, who respond to around seven emergencies every day. 

-ENDS-

Notes to editors
About Red Funnel
Red Funnel is the original Isle of Wight ferry company with roots tracing back to 1820. Based in the UK port of Southampton, Red Funnel carries 2.3m passengers and over 800,000 vehicles on its ferry route between the UK port of Southampton and East Cowes and 1.1m passengers between Southampton and West Cowes on its Red Jet Hi-Speed service.

In addition to ferry travel, Red Funnel is the only cross-Solent operator to offer ferry inclusive bonded holiday accommodation, attraction tickets, festival and event tickets and activity packages. Sub-brands include ‘Red Jet’ (the Hi-Speed passenger only ferry service serving West Cowes) and its on board café, ‘ReFuel’.  

The Company is a founding member of Visit Isle of Wight Ltd, the Island’s not for profit destination management organisation. Red Funnel is also proud to sponsor and support most of the Island’s premier events including the IW Festival, Cowes Week, Wight Proms, and Walk the Wight alongside a wide range of other community and niche interest events. 

Red Funnel’s Charity of the Year, 2025, is Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance 

For more information, visit www.redfunnel.co.uk