Stagecoach South East has thanked its passengers for helping to raise more than £75,000 for Demelza Hospice Care for Children after it reduced cash handling on its services in Kent and East Sussex as part of a range of measures to minimise transmission of Covid-19. Any cash overpayments were directed to Demelza, a charity providing specialist care and emotional support for children with serious or terminal conditions and their families in Kent, East Sussex, and South East London, and which has been badly affected by the cancellation or postponement of fundraising events and closure of retail shops during the pandemic. As a result of the exact fare policy, the charity received a donation of £75,870.07.
Lavinia Jarrett, Chief Executive at Demelza, said: “A huge thank you to Stagecoach customers across the South East who have raised over £75,000 for us as a result of the exact fare scheme which ran throughout lockdown restrictions. This incredible amount could help fund the salaries of two highly skilled hospice nurses to support the children and young people who use our services.
Stagecoach has now returned to giving change on board its buses, but has pledged to continue its partnership with the charity for an additional year, as lockdown restrictions and limits on social gatherings last year led to the cancellation of planned fundraising events.
Joel Mitchell, Managing Director at Stagecoach South East, said: “We introduced the measure as part of a whole range of responses to the pandemic to help protect our customers and our colleagues. One of the big positives to come out of the past year has been the huge financial support this scheme has provided to Demelza Hospice Care for Children. We would like to say a big thank you to all our customers for raising such a fantastic amount for the charity during a time when their fundraising revenue has been severely squeezed.”
