National Express Coventry

Local charity Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) has been awarded funding by National Express West Midlands following a heartfelt application from one its auto electricians, Steve Bradley, who volunteers for the organisation in his spare time.

Since 2006, Steve, who works at National Express’s Pensnett depot, has helped out in flood rescues and search operations. Speaking of the importance of SARA to the community. Steve said:

“SARA is an inshore rescue boat and land search organisation that gets over 100 call outs a year. We’re made up entirely of volunteers, yet SARA is second only to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution as the largest independent lifeboat service in the UK.”

Like the other 120 SARA volunteers, Steve and be called up at any time outside of working hours for a search and rescue operation or use of his electrician skills.

Steve continues: “As well as performing a vital service, volunteering for SARA can be exciting work, and there’s certainly great team spirit amongst us all. The youngest operational volunteer is 18, while the oldest is 65 – and we all get on brilliantly.”

Steve and SARA are the first recipients of charitable funds from National Express’s new community panel. Made up of a group of ten National Express employees, the panel was set up to encourage staff to get involved in charitable activities and offer financial support. Through the panel, employees can apply for small grants for the charities and community organisations that matter to them. Paul’s volunteering efforts for SARA were recognised with a grant of £100 which will help support its important work.

James Donnan, Head of Corporate Communications at National Express, said:”National Express encourages its employees to get involved in community activities. Working for National Express is only one aspect of their lives, many of our employees have really fascinating interests outside of work and the community panel gives them the opportunity to raise awareness and funds for something that’s really important to them – whether it’s Race for Life or a long term volunteering project like Steve’s.”