Red Funnel Invites Customers And Islanders To Vote For Next Charity Of The Year

The public vote for Red Funnel's 2024 Charity of the Year is now open.

 Three charities have been shortlisted by Red Funnel following an internal review and staff vote. Making the shortlist: 

• The Isle of Wight Food Bank
• Isle of Wight Multiple Sclerosis Society
• The RSPCA, Isle of Wight Branch

Since beginning its Charity of the Year programme back in 2014, Red Funnel has invited charities to partake in an annual application process, for the chance to become the company’s main charity partner for the upcoming year.

Over 2023, Red Funnel supported Apsire – an Island community hub bringing people together in many ways, particularly providing spaces and groups in which people can meet, grow and enhance their friendships and social networks.

Fran Collins, CEO at Red Funnel, said: "We always look forward to opening the public vote for our next Charity of the Year.

"We are proud to be able to support so many incredible causes and we look forward to working with 2024’s Charity of the Year, as chosen by our customers and the wider Island community.

"On behalf of us all at Red Funnel, I thank all 35 of the charities who applied to us, and I wish all three charities in the final vote the very best of luck.”

Votes can be cast online for Red Funnel's 2024 Charity of The Year. 

About the charities:

Isle of Wight Foodbank

The mission of the IW Foodbank is to feed people of the Isle of Wight who are in food crisis.

With the continued struggles with cost of living, more people and more people are having to turn to foodbanks and food pantries in their time of need.

The charity has 5 foodbanks that they call “cafes” across the whole of the Island.

These are placed in Cowes, Newport, Ryde, Shanklin and the West Wight. More than just food, the charity also helps signpost people to relevant agencies to support them in their time of crisis.

 More information can be found online.

Isle of Wight Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society

The overall aim of the charity is to offer the best support services for people affected by MS on the Island, as well as their wider family network.

Their aim is to raise awareness of the variety of support available, and help people deal with all the effects this illness – both physical and mental.

There are over 400 registered people on the Island affected by MS, and this number is increasing.

The charity’s overall aim is to help and support everyone affected and impacted by MS on the Island.

 For more information, visit the official website.

The RSPCA, Isle of Wight Branch

This is the Isle of Wight's core animal welfare organisation. As an independently registered charity, they rely on the generosity of the community.

All monies raised on the island, remain on the island, and go to support abandoned, abused, and orphaned domestic, farm and wild animals.

They provide care services to the animals in need which arrive at their animal centre in Godshill.

Efforts are segmented into three main focus areas for the charity: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome.  

Further information can be found online.