NEC Group new charity partnership

The NEC Group, based in Birmingham, officially launches a new charity partnership with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity this month.

Employees at the Group voted for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity to become their charity of the year for 2019.

The Group – which operates the NEC, ICC, Resorts World Arena, Arena Birmingham and the Vox venues, plus supporting businesses The Ticket Factory, Amadeus and Amplify – will be organising a range of fundraising activities.

The Group aims to engage employees and visitors, to raise money for the charity through a series of fund raising events, from bucket collections, to charity quizzes and seasonal activities.

Funds raised over the next 12-months will help to contribute to the £9 million that is needed each year to keep the charity’s service operational.

The charity currently operates three air ambulances serving the communities of six Midlands counties: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands. Each day they respond to an average of six-eight serious incidents, providing critical care on the scene and rapid transfer to the appropriate trauma centre.

The NEC Group’s support will help Midlands Air Ambulance Charity to achieve its mission of providing patients with outstanding pre-hospital care and life saving intervention through the operation of helicopter led emergency services.

NEC Group CEO, Paul Thandi said: “We’re really pleased to be working in partnership with the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. They are a remarkable charity that plays a key role in providing vitality important emergency services to the people of the Midlands.

“Employing over 1000 staff and attract over seven million visitors to our venues each year means we have a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness and the funds to help them achieve what’s needed to keep them flying and saving lives.”

Sofia Voutianitis, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity said: “It’s fantastic that the NEC Group has chosen to support our charity throughout 2019. It’s relationships like this that help to keep our helicopters in the air and keep our crew saving lives.

“I can’t wait to develop our relationship further and look forward to what else we can get involved in to support the charity.”