2022 Charities

The People's Charity 2022

The Airbourne People’s Charity is cleared for take-off once again with Eastbourne and District Samaritans revealed as the as the People’s Charity choice for 2022, after topping the public vote which took place pre-pandemic.

With over £90,000 donated to beneficiaries so far from the important donations at Eastbourne International Airshow, Eastbourne and District Samaritans will join the Rotary charities of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Eastbourne Station and the Children with Cancer Fund, chosen by members of the Sovereign Harbour Rotary Club and Hailsham Rotary Club. Both rotary clubs manage the collection with over 200 buckets out and about across the town during the four days of the airshow, with the three charities between them receiving a share of 30% of all donations received. The remaining 70% of donations are vital contributions to help fund the airshow’s flying displays

Learn more about the 2022 Charities...

Eastbourne and District Samaritans are affiliated to the Samaritans national charity and are dedicated to reducing the feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide. A 24-hour service is provided through The Haven in Eastbourne’s Bolton Road, ensuring there is always someone there to listen to people in need of emotional support. Despite working with a 30% reduction of volunteers during the pandemic, the Eastbourne and District Samaritans answered 16,456 inbound calls, totalling 5,110 hours call time in 2020.

Children with Cancer Fund is a small charity that aims to alleviate the suffering of children who have or have had cancer, and their families, across East Sussex, Brighton, and Hove. Established in 1998, CWCF hosts exciting local events giving beneficiaries the opportunity to meet others in a similar situation, and reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation that often come with a child’s cancer diagnosis. Alongside events CWCF grants wishes to each of their beneficiaries, whether that be practical, medical, or fun, aiming to make life a little easier for them whilst they are experiencing such difficult times.

Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) is the charity that saves lives at sea. Established in 1822, Eastbourne’s lifeboat station is a crucial service, with their voluntary lifeboat crews responding in all weathers to over 8,000 incidents each year. The lifesaving work performed by the RNLI is entirely funded by donations, ensuring that the modern fleet of lifeboats are maintained and ever-ready to go to the rescue.

The 2022 Shortlist...

Chalk Farm Learning Disabilities Centre
Currently supporting 42 adults with learning disabilities and/or autism, Chalk Farm Learning Disabilities Centre in Willingdon has been running for over 25 years. Students train from Monday to Friday with the ultimate goal of gaining a career in an industry they are passionate about, from hospitality to housekeeping and horticulture. The centre has seen many success stories, with past students gaining paid work as chefs, waiting staff and reception staff, as well as voluntary work too.
Eastbourne & District Samaritans
Staffed entirely by volunteers, Eastbourne & District Samaritans have been providing a service to the local community for more than 50 years. Last year their specially trained volunteers helped over 23,000 people. Supporting people and their families with whatever is troubling them, their aim is to reduce suffering and bring comfort and a sense of calm to those contacting their volunteers via phone, email and in person.
Ronald McDonald House Charities UK – (Brighton)
Providing a free ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families with children in specialist hospitals, the charity enables families to stay close to their child’s bedside, maintaining a degree of normal life during a difficult time. The Ronald McDonald House in Brighton provides much-needed normality for families with children being treated at Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital Trevor Mann Baby Unit. With 18 en-suite bedrooms, the house also offers kitchens for family meals, communal lounges, play areas for siblings and quiet spaces give families a refuge away from hectic wards.
The 2019 People's Charity - The Chaseley Trust
The Chaseley Trust won the vote for the 'people's charity' at Airbourne in 2019 after winning the public vote. The Chaseley Trust joined the Rotary charities of the Eastbourne Blind Society and Parkinson’s UK (Hailsham) chosen by members of the Sovereign Harbour Rotary Club and Hailsham Rotary Club. The money raised at Airbourne in both the bucket collections and at the charity's in ouse events, will go some way towards the £115,000 cost of fully refurbishing the bathroom facilities, which are currently showing their age, with considerable wear and tear. These improvements will enable the Trust to provide better, more accessible and safer facilities for everyone, enhancing the overall experience of living at Chaseley, improving energy efficiency and allowing for easier cleaning and maintenance, therefore saving the charity money in the future.
Donations Keep Airbourne Flying High
The annual Airbourne bucket collection, organised by Steve Newman and Mike Barlow of Sovereign Harbour Rotary Club, and the Rotary Clubs of Hailsham, is a mammoth project each year with over 200 buckets out and about across the town during the four days of the airshow. The bucket collection has become integral in securing both the future of the airshow and keeping entry free, with 70% of donations helping to fund the flying displays. The remaining 30% of donations are split between three local charities, all of whom support the show with volunteer collectors.