The National Emergencies Trust today announces Welcome Break, one of the UK’s leading motorway service area operators, as its latest corporate Patron.
Welcome Break joins a growing Patron community that supports the Trust year-round to ensure that it can raise funds quickly and help those in need when disasters arise. They include Arco, Alcimi, Arnold Clark, Clarion Housing Group, Co-op, Christopher Laing Foundation, IKEA, M&G plc, NatWest Group, Sky and Tesco.
The Welcome Break Charitable Fund was set up in 2023 to give back to the communities in which Welcome Break operates. For every £1 donated to the Welcome Break Charitable Fund, 5p will be donated to the National Emergencies Trust, supporting those affected by disasters in the UK.
Recent research from the National Emergencies Trust, carried out by Opinium, reveals how organisations could benefit from playing an active role during national emergencies. It shows that 76% of employees want the company they work for to play an active role during UK disasters such as major floods, fires or terror attacks.
More than a third (39%) of the 4,000 UK adults polled said it was a way for companies to show they care about the communities they serve; 37% said companies could show that they live their values, while 30% felt it was a way for companies to strengthen their culture.
In addition to helping raise vital awareness of its emergency appeals, Welcome Break will offer in-kind support and volunteering opportunities for the Trust. Outside of emergency appeals, funding enables the Trust to focus on projects that improve outcomes for survivors of UK disasters.
Nicola Marshall, People Director, Welcome Break, said: “At Welcome Break, we believe in the profound impact of giving back to our local communities, especially to provide critical support in times of crisis. We are proud to launch our new partnership with National Emergencies Trust to enable our teams to raise vital funds and provide support to our local communities when they need it, across the UK. It’s our collective responsibility to foster positive change for those who are most affected by disasters, and we are committed to continuing our efforts in making a meaningful difference where it matters most.”
Mhairi Sharp, CEO of the National Emergencies Trust, said: “We are thrilled to have Welcome Break on board as our newest Patron partner. Their year-round funding will enable us to offer continuous support to disaster survivors, from backing survivor-led research initiatives to ensuring that survivors will have access to faster, tailored mental health support during future emergencies. With their widespread presence in key locations across all four nations of the UK, they are strategically positioned to swiftly respond to any incident.”
