Virgin Atlantic and British Airways to go head-to-head in charity football match
- Virgin Atlantic and British Airways will play a charity football match for the first time, to raise money for families affected by the floods in Pakistan.
- The match will take place at 20:00 today (Friday 18th November) at Horsham Football Club.
- Spectators are invited free of charge and donations are encouraged through the two airlines’ websites.
For the first time ever, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways will take to the football pitch in aid of UK for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) to support children and their families affected by the Pakistan floods.
The match between the rival British airlines will kick off at 20:00 on Friday 18 November at Horsham Football Club and has been organised by Kyle Reynolds, Cabin Crew for Virgin Atlantic and David Rees from British Airways. The two airlines are putting their friendly competition to one side to unite in the aid of these deserving charities.
Spectators are invited to come down and while entry is free of charge, attendees are asked to donate via either airline. 100% of donations made to British Airways will go to the Disaster Emergency Committee in support of the Pakistan floods appeal. By working together as a member of the DEC’s Rapid Response Network, British Airways raises funds to save, protect, and rebuild lives in vulnerable communities that are impacted by major disasters.
Virgin Atlantic will split donations between its charity partners, with 50% of proceeds going to UK for UNHCR’s Pakistan floods appeals, and 50% of proceeds going to The Smallpeice Trust, Speakers for Schools, and UK for UNHCR through the Virgin Atlantic Foundation. Virgin Atlantic partners with these charities to deliver their flagship community programme, Passport to Change, which aims to end educational inequality and increase engagement in STEM subjects. Virgin Atlantic Football Club has previously played against easyJet, Beder Football Club and Stonewall Football Club to raise funds for these partners.
The match will also be available to tune into via a livestream here. Those wishing to watch the game are asked to note their attendance on Eventbrite here. To donate through Virgin Atlantic, click here and to donate through British Airways, click here.
Estelle Hollingsworth, Chief People Officer at Virgin Atlantic commented, “At Virgin Atlantic, our purpose is to empower everyone to take on the world. Joining forces with our industry competitors at British Airways is a fantastic opportunity to put our rivalry aside and raise money for just that.
“We are incredibly proud to work so closely with our charity partners, from supporting the Pakistan floods appeal through UK for UNHCR, to investing in the hearts and minds of young people with the help of The Smallpeice Trust and Speakers for Schools. We are so grateful for every single contribution and are committed to using our business as a force for good.”
Carrie Harris, Director of Sustainability at British Airways commented, “Together with our colleagues and customers, British Airways has proudly supported the DEC for almost 10 years. Through 19 humanitarian appeals, we’ve helped raise £1.7 million so far and know how important and impactful their work is for communities around the world. The funds raised by British Airways team through this charity match are going to support the DEC’s Pakistan Flood Appeal so we’re delighted to see our colleagues taking part.”