READING Buses and a major charity in Berkshire are celebrating the official announcement of how much money was raised through a partnership last year.
The Royal Berkshire Charity was chosen as Reading Buses’ charity partnership for 2023, as the transport company raises funds for good causes throughout the year.
Now they have announced that more than £11,700 was raised through a number of events.
The Royal Berkshire Charity supports the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust across seven hospital sites in Berkshire and south Oxfordshire.
This includes funding new equipment, and provides support that regular government funding is unable to.
Following the success of fundraising efforts in 2023, Reading Buses has also announced that it will renew the partnership through 2024.
A new bus with RBC livery has also been unveiled, featuring a phone number that residents can text to donate to the charity.
Representatives from Reading Buses, the charity, and the NHS were invited to a special event at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, where Reading Buses CEO Robert Williams handed over the cheque for £11,739.
He said: “It is my absolute pleasure to announce the amount raised in 2023 and that we are extending our partnership for a second year.
“It is unusual for us to select a charity for a second year, demonstrating the really valuable work that The Royal Berks Charity does.
“We hope that all we learned last year helps to make this year even better. We are also extremely delighted to unveil a newly branded Royal Berks Charity bus which is one of our spare double decker buses that will run on every route around Reading and the local area.
“We hope that it will help to raise awareness of the charity and their good work and prompt many more donations.”
Jo Warrior, charity director at the Royal Berkshire Charity, said: “We were absolutely blown away by the huge success of our partnership with Reading Buses and we look forward to continuing this relationship into 2024.
“This donation really will make a huge impact to local NHS services within Berkshire and South Oxfordshire.”
Donations of £5 can be made to the Royal Berkshire Charity by texting 5BUS to 70085.
