Employees will boost funds to help support young people receiving care at Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and their families

Employees across Airbus Defence and Space in Portsmouth are starting a year-long programme of fundraising in support of seriously ill children.

Friends of Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) has been chosen as charity of the year, meaning that all fundraising from events at the company will boost funds and help support children receiving care at the unit at Southampton’s Children’s Hospital.

Kate Hollis, Airbus Portsmouth's charity champion with Emily Cleife, Community and Events Fundraising Lead, Kerry Houghton Operations Manager and Friends of PICU volunteers, Tony Gough and Mary Dowden. | Airbus Portsmouth

placeholder image — Kate Hollis, Airbus Portsmouth's charity champion with Emily Cleife, Community and Events Fundraising Lead, Kerry Houghton Operations Manager and Friends of PICU volunteers, Tony Gough and Mary Dowden. | Airbus Portsmouth

Various events are being planned including a team of 11 Airbus employees who will abseil down the Spinnaker Tower on Saturday, September 19. The challenge is expected to be one of the biggest fundraising events of the year where they hope to raise more than £3,000.

Employees will also take part in the Great South Run, organise workplace fundraising and awareness events, including hosting an employee talent show, and support the Friends of PICU Family Fun Day on Saturday, September 5, at The Cleveland Bay pub in Chandler’s Ford. The Family Fun Day is open to the public with the activities to help support the charity.

“Friends of PICU is an incredible local charity that provides comfort and support to children and their families during some of the most difficult times imaginable. As our Charity of the Year, we wanted to create a programme of fundraising that would not only raise money but also raise awareness of their amazing work,” said Kate Hollis, Charity Champion at Airbus Defence and Space Portsmouth.

The fundraising campaign reflects the employees of Airbus Defence and Space Portsmouth’s commitment to supporting the local community through employee-led charitable initiatives, with colleagues from across the business working together to make a meaningful difference. Airbus employees in Portsmouth often raise more than £7,000 a year for their chosen charity.

Airbus was also involved in one of the showpiece events oif the Portsmouth100 celebrations when people gatherred on Southsea Common to have their picture taken by one of its passing satellites. Unfortunately cloud cover scuppered the photo oportunity but the occasion was still captured in stunning drone images.