Supporting Isle of Wight Residents.

Red Funnel has announced that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) will be the company’s Charity of the Year for the duration of 2025.  

This announcement follows the results of a vote by the Isle of Wight community, Red Funnel colleagues and customers. Wessex Cancer Support IOW and The Wight Brainy were also shortlisted, following a review of 39 charities who submitted applications.

Since the ferry operator began its Charity of the Year programme in 2015 it has raised over £400,000 in support of causes impacting the Island community. Notably, HIOWAA was Red Funnel’s third ever Charity of the Year back in 2017.

HIOWAA brings the hospital to the patient. Its highly skilled teams of doctors, dispatchers, pilots and paramedics respond to an average of five patients every day – be it a cardiac arrest, a road traffic collision or a serious medical episode. 

This charity has responded to almost 2,500 emergency callouts in 2024 alone – more than 20,000 in its 17-year history. Each mission is funded entirely by the kindness and generosity from people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. 

Red Funnel is also proud to announce a new cohort of sponsored Island residents, introducing 15 ‘Island Ambassadors’ and 12 ‘Supported Teams’ – each selected to represent Red Funnel and the Isle of Wight as they compete and perform off Island in 2025.

Following the opening of applications in November, the company received over 100 requests to join the sponsorship programme. Successful applicants benefit from travel support to the mainland, helping them to take their talent from local to national, international or even global status.

Of the 15 successful Ambassadors selected, eight will return to the programme having proved themselves in their respective fields in 2024. This outstanding list includes British kickboxing champion Dominic Marsh, indie rock band Coach Party and pro-kitesurfer Tom Court.

Seven new Ambassadors will also make their debut in 2025, representing a mix of disciplines, including dance duo Isabel and Jasmine Dominey, dog agility team Abs Whittington together with Border Collie Dash, and pro darts player Keegan Brown.

Of all successful applicants, five Ambassadors are juniors under the age of 18 and making waves in their respective fields, including professional Pokemon player Cass Morey and archer Summer Chambers

Three new clubs will be added to the Supported Teams line up, including the Isle of Wight Squash club, Isle of Wight Rugby Club. A total 12 organisations receive travel support this year