FirstGroup, the UK’s largest bus and rail operator, today revealed that it has donated advertising space on every one of its buses outwith London (totalling some 7,000), to its charity partner, Save the Children, in a gesture worth more than £260k.
The adverts include the message ‘No Child Born Without A Chance’ and form part of the charity’s 2011 ‘Born To’ campaign. They already feature in buses throughout the UK and will be rolled out to First’s 7,000 regional bus fleet (excluding London buses) in the coming weeks.
Giles Fearnley, Managing Director of First’s UK bus division, said: “Providing free advertising on our buses is one example of how First supports Save the Children. Our in-kind support and cash donations total more than £4million since our partnership began in 2007.”
He continued: “The adverts will feature on around 7,000 of our buses up and down the country, from Aberdeen to Plymouth, from Norwich to Glasgow. They will prove a valuable tool in raising public awareness of the crucial role that Save the Children plays in improving the quality of life for thousands of children in the UK.”
Douglas Rouse, Corporate Partnerships Director at Save the Children, added: “We are so grateful for FirstGroup’s generous support of our campaign through free advertising on its buses. This is an incredible opportunity to reach more people with the message that no child should be born without a chance because they’re born into poverty.”
The adverts, which will be displayed inside First’s buses, are currently being rolled out and will remain on display for around two months.
About Save the Children’s ‘Born To’ Campaign
Save the Children believes that every child should get the chance to fulfil their potential, wherever they're born and whatever their circumstances. No child in the UK should be born without a warm home, the right food, or the hope of a good education. So it is asking the UK public to help the poorest children get a better start in life - both at home and at school, and it's campaigning to make sure government is working towards a time when no child in this country is born without a chance. People can get involved and help change children's lives by doing what they're born to do - for example, if you're born to run you can join a Save the Children running group. You can find out more at www.savethechildren.org.uk/bornto.