Hauliers, vehicle manufacturers and other companies in the logistics sector have long assisted local and national charities and provided backing to causes close to the hearts of their staff and families.
One important and unique way they can help is by providing the bodywork of trucks, trailers and vans to publicise charitable organisations, as well as hold fundraising events in which staff can participate.
For example, Palletline Logistics-owned ABE Ledbury is backing an ongoing fundraising campaign to help keep Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s vital pre-hospital emergency service in the air by promoting the cause on the back and sides of its new trailer.
Its specially designed livery includes a QR code on both sides, allowing passers-by to donate to the cause on the spot.
This new trailer has also been allocated a special number – TIM180 – in memory of an ABE employee Tim Hickson, who tragically who took his own life last Easter.
Launched in 1991, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity serves the largest population of all the UK’s air ambulance charities, covering Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, the West Midlands and Worcestershire.
The average cost this year for a critical care car mission is £288, while the average cost for an air ambulance mission is £2,950.
Pam Hodgetts, corporate partnership manager at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Effectively, ABE Ledbury has given us free advertising this year.
“The livery will enable us to reach people we may not otherwise have been able to. Its sheer size, plus the distance it is set to cover, it is the perfect gift-in-kind.
“It’s not always about handing over a cheque directly to the charity – businesses or individuals lending their expertise or their assets, as ABE Ledbury has, all helps make a huge difference in enabling us to achieve our fundraising target each year through making great savings.”
Civils & Lintels raised more than £21,000 for the Mates in Mind organisation in 2023 and has introduced refreshed signage on its fleet of 95 LGVs, providing details of its free text helpline service.
The idea to support the national charity – that raises awareness of the stigma of poor mental health, especially in the construction sector – came from one of its drivers.
These trucks not only reach the company’s nationwide teams across 19 depots, but also its customers in the housebuilding, groundworks, civil engineering and commercial contractor sectors.
The Civils & Lintels team participated in several fundraising events during 2023 that included some members of staff shaving their hair and beards off; one employee travelling to 18 Dutch football stadiums in 24 hours; sky-dives and teams climbing the equivalent of Mount Everest.
In addition, staff collectively walked the equivalent distance of the route between all Civils & Lintels depots – more than 1,200 miles – in one month, as well as holding a variety of cake sales, raffles and comedy nights.
Allan Wright, Managing Director of Civils & Lintels, who recently joined the board of trustees at Mates in Mind, said: “It’s vital that we focus our fundraising efforts on a cause that resonates with our own team.
“Mates in Mind has built a reputation for addressing issues around poor mental health in the construction industry and given the focus of our own work, the synergy is clear.
“Anything that we can do to encourage greater support around tackling poor mental health is time well-spent.”
MAN Truck & Bus originally started working with the Alzheimer’s Society as its chosen charity in April 2023 and since then, with the support and efforts of employees, it has held several fundraising events in support of the organisation.
Founded in 1979 to unite caregivers, the charity provides support to those facing Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and helps advance research into the illness.
Last Christmas, the vehicle manufacturer took part in a 12-day tour of the country in which one of its TGE vans covered about 1400 miles, and delivered 23 goodie boxes to support carers and volunteers who support those living with dementia.
With help from Tesco, Willsmer Wagg and C3 Marketing, the MAN Charity Tree Tour started in Swindon and delivered biscuits, mince pies and chocolates, wrapped with a bow, to Alzheimer’s Society Memory Cafes and Singing for the Brain groups nationwide.
There are currently about 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia, and the illness mainly affects people over the age of 65.
An estimated total of one in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.
Amy Tattersall, Community Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society, said: “The support we’ve received from MAN Truck & Bus UK is fantastic and is making a life-changing difference to people living with dementia.”
Meanwhile, in May, a team of about 50 cyclists, consisting of staff, customers and partners of trailer rental and leasing specialist TIP from across the UK and Ireland, undertook its annual fundraising challenge in aid of the Douglas Macmillan Hospice.
The team cycled more than 300 kilometres, including about 2,000 metres of climb, with the aim of raising £50,000 for the Staffordshire-based charity that provides end-of-life care.
Cycling from Zurich in Switzerland, the team passed between the Alps and lakes of Austria, arriving three days later in the Bavarian capital of Munich.
It is the team’s 10th fundraising effort with more than £500,000 raised for various charities from its nine previous excursions, from sponsors and donators.
Mike Furnival, managing director of TIP said the success of the team highlights TIP’s broader commitment to corporate social responsibility and community engagement.
He added: “Through our collective efforts, we have surpassed our fundraising goals every year, and while doing so, we have forged lasting relationships with various charities and industry partners.”
The number of commercial vehicles traveling around the UK means road transport operators have unique opportunity to publicise their chosen charities and do good.
Many companies in the sector realise this and make a huge contribution, helping charitable organisations improve the lives of people and communities in the process.
