A transport company is giving hard-pressed charities and community groups in Greater Manchester a welcome boost by providing them with £25,000 of free advertising on its buses.
The Christie charity, Pure Innovations, NK Theatre Arts and Stockport Volleyball Club are all being promoted on Belle Vue Manchester’s school buses. The adverts are running for at least a year.
“All charities are struggling during the pandemic, and some could cease to function if people don’t donate to them. Businesses have a responsibility to support good causes in their local communities.
The ones we have chosen to help all do great work, and we are pleased to promote
them. Hopefully, the adverts will generate income as well as increasing exposure
about the work they do.”(Phil Hitchen, managing director of Stockport-based Belle Vue)
Belle Vue carries two million passengers a year on its fleet of 60 school buses and 20 coaches. It is the largest education transport provider in Greater Manchester. One of the adverts is for The Christie charity’s Touching Lives campaign. The Christie charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust by providing money for cancer care and treatment, research, education and extra patient services.
Phil’s life was saved by successful cancer treatment at The Christie in 2011.
“We are delighted that Belle Vue Manchester is showing its support for The Christie charity. Cancer doesn’t stop for a pandemic, and our fundraising hasn’t stopped. This has been an incredibly difficult time for us all, but it is thanks to support from local companies such as Belle Vue that we can reach wider audiences and continue raising awareness of The Christie’s work.”
(Steph Bryant, corporate fundraising coordinator at The Christie charity)
Pure Innovations is a charity which supports people with disabilities, health conditions and those who are living in isolation and cut off from their communities. Among the services it operates are cafés in Stockport and Oldham.
“We very much appreciate the significant role that Phil and the team at Belle Vue are playing in supporting our work by providing advertising on the side of its buses. It is enabling us to spread the message about Pure Innovations across Greater Manchester.”
(Dave Ferrier, Director of operations)
NK Theatre Arts is a charity which offers regular workshops in musical theatre, dance and drama, and has a 370-seat auditorium in Stockport – The Forum Romiley Theatre – which in normal times is used by many community organisations.
“We are thrilled to receive this support from Belle Vue Manchester. It’s a brilliant way to promote the activities we offer to the community and will really help raise our profile even further.
We can’t wait for the people of Stockport to be able to return to theatres safely, and
this gives us a wonderful chance to promote specific shows and events we are
producing, be that a premiere of a show or even a visit from Sir Ian McKellen.We love to prove that you don’t need to leave the borough to experience great live
theatre, and Belle Vue is helping to spread the word.”(Darren Stannage, company manager at NK Theatre Arts)
Stockport Volleyball Club is a non-profit community organisation which has members
living all over the north west.
“It’s an incredibly supportive gesture by Belle Vue. We are one of the fastest-growing clubs in the north west, with players of all abilities and ages, from beginners to National Volleyball League athletes. We hope that, through this increased promotional activity, more people may be interested in joining.”
(Adrian Stores, Director)
“Our school buses are mainly bright yellow and are therefore very visible
and eye-catching, so it’s pleasing to help this quartet of really worthwhile causes attract more attention across Greater Manchester.”(Phil Hitchen)
He is in discussions with Stockport-based Seashell Trust to promote it on a Belle Vue bus. The charity supports children and young people with complex learning difficulties, disabilities and additional communication needs from across the UK.
