OmniServ, the UK’s leading airline and airport assistance services provider, has pledged to support two UK charities – Colostomy UK and Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) – throughout 2019, as part of its continued commitment to making air travel accessible for everyone.
The two new charity partnerships will see OmniServ working closely with representatives from both charities across the UK to collaborate on various initiatives aimed at helping to improve the airport experience for passengers. In addition to supporting the work of both charities, OmniServ will regularly host internal and external team events, from which it will donate all proceeds to Colostomy UK and QEF.
“We are looking forward to supporting both charities by creating teams to participate in a number of challenge events this year,” said OmniServ’s Director of Aviation, Ian Mitchell.
Colostomy UK is a national charity that supports people who have had, or are due to have, stoma surgery. Its mission is to help them, and those close to them, get their lives back on track as soon as possible. The charity also acts as advocates, regularly speaking out for their rights to encourage hidden conditions to be recognized and the needs of people with them to be understood. Their campaigns and projects encourage organisations, business, public bodies and policymakers to improve their facilities and make the world accessible to all. Its vision is of communities in which everyone is empowered to reach their potential.
Libby Herbert, General Manager at Colostomy UK, said: “We are delighted that OmniServ have recognized our efforts to make travel more accessible to people living with disabilities and hidden conditions, by choosing us as their charity partnership for 2019. We are looking forward to this collaboration and to working with an organisation that puts people first.”
QEF is a national disability charity with more than 80 years’ experience of developing innovative services which support people with disabilities to increase their independence and achieve their goals in life, including accessing aviation.
Graham Race, accessible aviation expert and lead for QEF Accessible Aviation, said: “QEF is delighted to have been chosen as OmniServ’s new charity partner. We work with over 5,000 disabled children and adults across the country every year, providing expert care and practical support to enable people to increase their independence. Our services include neuro rehabilitation for people who have acquired a brain injury – something that can happen to anyone, at any time; supporting people with life-long disabilities to develop their life skills, and helping people of all ages to increase their mobility.
“Our Accessible Aviation team support disabled people to access air travel. Our recent film ‘Your guide to flying with a disability’ was developed in partnership with the UK Civil Aviation Authority and provides information to wheelchair users on every aspect of a journey by air. This is supported by our unique assessment service QEF Tryb4uFly, offering individual cabin assessments to disabled people and their families to help make their journey by air as comfortable and stress free as possible.
“OmniServ’s support will enable us to develop these services so that more disabled people across the country can increase their independence and live the life they choose.”
Antony Marke, Group Managing Director for OmniServ, said: “OmniServ has already collaborated closely with both Colostomy UK and Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People on a number of initiatives across the UK, as we have sought to improve the airport experience for our passengers, so we are delighted to have the opportunity to strengthen those relationships. We look forward to supporting these incredible organisations which carry out vital work to ensure that travel is accessible for everyone, including those with visible or hidden disabilities.”
