• Over £40k raised so far by Stagecoach customers for the NHS charities

• Customers thanked for their support in the exact fare scheme

• People still encouraged to use contactless payment wherever possible and to have the exact fare for their journeys

Stagecoach in South Wales has thanked its customers across the country for helping to raise more than £40,000 for the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Appeal.

Stagecoach in South Wales introduced a temporary exact fare policy on its bus services in May 2020 in response to feedback from the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers have been advised that any excess payment received as a result of not giving change will be donated to the NHS Charities Together Appeal, which supports NHS staff, volunteers and patients impacted by Covid-19 across the country.

The temporary policy is one of many measures taken by Stagecoach to ensure that people can continue to travel with confidence. All services in Wales have been accredited with Visit Britain’s “We’re Good to Go” official mark, recognising the work carried out to meet government and industry Covid-19 guidelines and the processes in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.

The donation has been split between the Welsh partners of the COVID-19 appeal, ‘Cardiff & Vale Health Charity’, ‘Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’ and the ‘Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board’ which help support the NHS staff, volunteers and patients in their hospitals in ways above and beyond what NHS funding can ordinarily provide.

Jamie Miles, Stagecoach Acting Operations Manager, Cwmbran met with Kathryn Thomas, Project Manager for ‘Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’ at the new Grange Hospital in Cwmbran to present the latest donation.

Sue Turley, Charitable Funds Officer for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said:

“The money will be used to provide additional benefits for the care and treatment of the patients, purchase of medical equipment and for the benefit of the staff, in these unprecedented times. Thank you to everyone who donated, your kindness is very much appreciated”.

Steve Webster, Director of Finance for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said:

“Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board would like to thank staff from Stagecoach South Wales and the community for the very kind donation made to the health board during the COVID19 pandemic. Our staff have worked extremely hard over the last year and they continue to do so, some in areas not familiar to them to ensure we provide the best possible care for our patients.

“The donations received went into a staff COVID19 fund. This fund is being used to provide facilities or items that will benefit and help the wellbeing of our staff. We are currently talking to staff on what they would like to use the funds for that will help their health and wellbeing at work. We thank you for your ongoing support”.

Nigel Winter, Managing Director for Stagecoach in South Wales, said:

“We would like to thank our customers for their help in raising such a fantastic amount for this worthy charity. We’re very proud of the incredible job that all key workers, including our own employees, are continuing to do and are pleased that this money will be going to support those who have supported many others during these difficult times”.

Stagecoach customers are still asked to use contactless, mobile, pre-payment methods or have exact change for their fare. The excess payment from the exact fare policy will continue to be donated to the NHS appeal.

Information Source: Stagecoach South Wales