We aim as a company to encourage and increase social wellbeing through our charitable efforts and support to our community.
Weāre delighted to have partnered with The Outward Bound Trust as our chosen charity.
Celebrating its 80th Anniversary in 2021, this wonderful organisation not only shares our love of the great outdoors but their work to help young people realise their true potential and strive to reach it really struck a chord with us here at Virgin Balloon Flights.
In addition to our chosen charity, we also remain dedicated to supporting Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group.
Through this we are able to communicate the pro-social activities within the Virgin worldwide network as well as the initiatives within Virgin Balloon Flights.
Through sharing best practice with internal and external experts, we aim to encourage positive work within our business, ensuring all of our employees have the opportunity to use our business as a force for good.
Here are some of our best bits:
In 2017, we donated more than Ā£4,700 to the Outward Bound Trust and pledged a further Ā£3,600 worth of balloon ride vouchers for fundraising events.
And if you use the code OBT at checkout when buying a balloon ride voucher from us right now, not only will you save 10% but we'll also donate 3% of the voucher sale amount to the Outward Bound Trust. See full offer details here.
Also in 2017, two of our call centre team, Shawn and Tom, ran the Virgin Money London Marathon in aid of mental health charity MIND.
In 2016 we raised almost Ā£8,500 for the British Lung Foundation and donated more than Ā£2,700 worth of complimentary flight vouchers for the charity to use for additional fundraising efforts.
2011 saw the first year Virgin Balloon Flights put their fundraising efforts into backing The Virgin London Marathon.
With parties, raffles and running vest sponsorship, not to mention staff skydives, silences and running to name but a few of our fundraising channels, the race to raise money for our chosen charity Hope House Childrenās Hospices began.
The total of Ā£7,811, was collected through our marathon campaign, which will pay for a whole year of fun trips and excursions for terminally ill children who visit the hospices.
As part of Virgin Uniteās Business Champion and Insiders networks, both aimed at ensuring Virgin businesses continue to use the brand as a force for good, Virgin Balloon Flights is tracked on a monthly basis for our donations in terms of cash, time and stuff.
In 2011 alone we donated a mammoth value of just over Ā£27,000, assisting over 100 charities and charitable projects.
Itās not always just cash that a charity is seeking and we were lucky enough to be part of a āhit squadā for the Starlight Childrenās Foundation giving our time and knowledge to help them build a brighter future for seriously and terminally ill children.
Supporting others forms part of our core brand values here at Virgin Balloon Flights and we aim to build on our donations year on year.
Back in 2010, Virgin Balloon Flights joined the British Heart Foundation's Wear Red Day in the best way we knew howābaking, eating, and a splash of Virgin red spirit! Our office transformed into a vibrant sea of red as we raised funds for the BHFās incredible Red for Heart campaign, supporting their vision to create a world free of premature heart disease. With cakes lovingly crafted by Simply Love Cupcakes, quizzes, and even a spirited game of bingo, we brought our team together to make a difference. It was a day filled with fun, purpose, and plenty of frosting, and weāre proud to have contributed to such a vital cause. Hereās to the BHF and their groundbreaking work in fighting heart diseaseābecause together, we can truly make a difference.