Bluestar Community Fund - applications now open.
At Bluestar, we’re proud to support our local community, and as a company we understand that to make things happen, local groups and charities need our support.
Every month, we were approached by many organisations in the community asking for help or donations towards their local efforts, and we dealt with these requests in a very ad-hoc manner, with the result differing dramatically depending on who got the call, question or email.
So we launched our Community Fund to be a dedicated resource for supporting local causes, charities and organisations, whether it is monetary support, marketing help, free travel or the use of a bus for an event required.
How does it work?
It's open for applications from everyone all year round, whether you’re a charity, a sports team, a school, or one of the local events that makes our city a vibrant place to live - with our funding or support donated to successful applicants during two months of the year – January and July, so please bear this in mind when applying.
For each of the these months we have £500 to donate to share among the many worthy causes, as well as support in kind. We encourage anyone who needs a helping hand, however big or small, to apply.
Community Funding will be allocated to worthy causes by a 'judging' panel including our local management team. Successful applicants will be contacted, while those not successful are welcome to apply for the next set of funding available.
The Community Fund is a Go South Coast initiative, with all six bus operators opening applications, and is on top of our commitment to our official charity of the year.
By applying for the community fund, applicants must agree and acknowledge that Bluestar must be given the opportunity to take a press photograph at the applicant's premises/with their cause/group in order to issue a press release that they will be obliged to provide a comment for. They agree that this will be used on the Bluestar website and social media channels.
Who did we support in 2024?
Lordshill Community Association
As part of the January round, we donated £250 to Lordshill Community Association so that they could buy a new pressure washer and hosepipe. The centre is hired out at a low cost to those living in the local area and this new equipment will help keep it clean and tidy for those that use it.
Hamble Youth Football Club
Hamble Youth Football Club were the second cause to receive our support in the January round. We donated £250 so that their under 9s team could buy new training equipment to help enhance the players' game. Their team is coached by two local dads who know how this extra equipment will play a key role in helping to improve their football skills.
Friends of Portswood Rec
We donated the full £500 to Friends of Portswood Rec in the July round. Gardeners from the group meet each week to look after the site and also pick litter every weekend. Their group is open to all and our donation went towards buying more garden tools and litter pickers so that group numbers don't have to be restricted.
How to Apply
You just need to tell us who you are, about your cause, what you need from us, and the difference this support would make to you.
Whether your request is for a raffle prize or a new sports team kit, our panel will take all serious applications into consideration. Please go into as much detail as you can about your cause and how we can help to make a difference.
We hope that the Community Fund application process will offer a fairer support process and see new individuals and groups coming forward who may not have wanted to ask for help previously.