Stagecoach has thanked its customers across the country for helping to raise more than £122,000 for the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Appeal. At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Stagecoach introduced a temporary exact fare policy on many of its bus services. Customers were advised that any excess payment received as a result of not giving change would be donated to the NHS Charities Together Appeal, which supports NHS staff, volunteers and patients impacted by Covid-19 across the country.
The temporary policy was part of the measures taken to ensure that people could continue to travel with confidence. The donation of £122,754.47 will help NHS charities across the UK to support the NHS staff, volunteers and patients in their hospitals in ways above and beyond what NHS funding can ordinarily provide. It will be used to help kit out Wobble Rooms, which are dedicated areas of hospitals where staff can go for relaxation during busy shifts, fund games and activities to support young patients in mental health wards and in the community, and provide electronic tablets for patients to video call their loved ones.
Ellie Orton, Chief Executive of NHS Charities, said: “Covid-19 is still such a big part of everyone’s life, impacting on our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. All donations will help NHS charities across the UK to support hospitals, ambulance services, community healthcare and social care in people’s recovery from the short and long term effects of the virus.”
Carla Stockton-Jones, UK Managing Director for Stagecoach, said: “We would like to thank our customers for their help in raising such a fantastic amount for this worthy charity. We’re very proud of the incredible job that all key workers, including our own employees, are continuing to do as part of the national effort and are pleased that this money will be going to support those who have supported many others during these difficult times.
“In the past few months, we’ve all had to make changes to the way we live and travel to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Many people have found it easy and convenient to pay for their journey using contactless or by mobile and we would encourage our customers to continue to do so where possible.”
Stagecoach said that customers are still being asked to use contactless, mobile, pre-payment methods or have exact change for their fare wherever possible. Change will be given where needed across the majority of Stagecoach bus services but Stagecoach South, Stagecoach South East and Stagecoach Wales are continuing to operate exact fare schemes and charity donations will continue to the chosen charities in these regions.
