Cheque Presentation -2

First Bus Employees Score Big for Charity in Essex Football Fundraiser

First Bus employees from Chelmsford, Hadleigh, and Basildon bus depots came together for a charity football match, raising over £2,300 for Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund, a local charity dedicated to supporting children battling cancer and their families.

The match featured a team of First Bus drivers from Chelmsford and Hadleigh depots taking on a team comprising players from a mental health charity. Though the First Bus team came up short on the scoreboard, the true victory was in the incredible support and funds raised for the cause.

After the match, an auction and raffle helped boost donations, featuring an impressive selection of prizes, including spa days, London day trips, restaurant vouchers, wine, and luxury gift sets. The highlight of the auction included a signed football shirt from Aaron Cresswell and a framed, signed photograph of Stuart Pearce.

“The generosity of our First Bus colleagues and their families has been overwhelming,” said Jennifer Kett, Relief Controller from First Bus’ Chelmsford Depot. “We are committed to continuing our support for such an amazing local charity, and with First Bus Essex backing us, we can make a real difference in the lives of children and families facing unimaginable challenges.”

Lindsey Bidwell, Relations & Partnership Managerat Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund, said: "The support we have received from all the teams at First Bus Essex has been truly incredible. Their dedication to helping us raise vital funds and awareness for childhood cancer is deeply appreciated. The passion of Jennifer and her colleagues for making a difference is truly inspiring, and my team and I are extremely grateful for their efforts."

With the success of this event, plans are already in motion for another charity event in the spring, further cementing First Bus Essex’s commitment to community engagement and charitable giving.

For more information on the Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund, please visit Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund [www.lennoxccf.org.uk]

For more information on First Bus please visit Essex | First Bus [www.firstbus.co.uk/essex]

Notes to editors

Image Caption L-R: Dave Scott (First Bus Hadleigh Depot), Lindsey Bidwell (Lennox), Sacha Norris (First Bus Chelmsford Depot) and Jennifer Kett (First Bus Chelmsford Depot)

First Bus

At First Bus, we are on a mission to grow bus usage. We will get behind initiatives that move people out of cars and onto bus.   

We’re one of the UK’s largest bus operators, delivering over a million passenger journeys every week for the communities we serve.  

Transforming our business for the better, we’re putting our people and customers at the heart of all we do.   

First Bus is committed to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. 15% of our will fleet now comprises of Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs).   

We’re passionate about giving back to the communities we serve, which is why we’re helping local businesses to progress their own decarbonisation journeys with access to our charging hubs while our buses are on the road.  

We also operate the Aircoach network in Ireland, Specialist Passenger Solutions, First Travel Solutions and Ensignbus.   

First Bus is a division of FirstGroup.     

Find more information on First Bus here: https://news.firstbus.co.uk/