Community
Exeter International Airport receives a great many requests for fund raising donations and sponsorship. Whilst these causes are very worthy of support, it is not possible to help as many as we would wish. The management therefore has a policy of adopting just one charity each year.
The airport is able to offer the charity the opportunity to place coin collection 'spinners' at various locations within the airport and it is hoped that the travelling public will give generously to the charity when passing through the airport.
Charities that wish to be considered for the position of the Airport's Charity of the Year should submit a proposal to the airport by the end of October to:
The Communications Manager
Airport Charity
Exeter Airport
Exeter
EX5 2BD
Adopted Charity 2008
Every year, an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. Most people affected are over 65, but anyone can have a stroke, including children and even babies.
A stroke is the third most common cause of death in the UK. It is also a leading cause of severe adult disability. More than 250,000 people live with disabilities caused by stroke.
It could happen to you, or someone you care for. If it does, you'll want to know as much as you can about strokes.
This section of the website tells you all about strokes - what causes them, the effects that they can have, how they can be prevented and how they are treated. It also tells you how The Stroke Association can help you if stroke affects your life.
Stroke clubs
Follow the links below to find out more about stroke clubs in the South West:
- Stroke clubs and support groups in Devon and Cornwall
- Stroke clubs and support groups in Gloucestershire and Somerset
- Stroke clubs and support groups in Dorset and Wiltshire
The launch of the 2008 Charity of the Year fundraising activity was on 10 January 2008 when Jamie Christon, 
Deputy Managing Director (left) and Jon Barrick, Chief Executive of The Stroke Association demonstrated one of the charity's activities for the airport. Blood pressure is a good indicator of health and during the year the airport will be helping the charity to raise awareness of strokes with blood pressure sessions for both passengers and staff. Jamie Christon said: “Stroke is the third biggest killer and a leading cause of adult disability and the airport is in an ideal position to help publicise the charity.”
Strokes can be prevented through lifestyle factors such as a healthy diet - particularly reducing salt intake, drinking alcohol in moderation, not smoking and taking regular exercise.
Jon Barrick said: “We are delighted to be working with Exeter Airport in 2008. It offers us a great opportunity to raise awareness of stroke and to highlight the services available to people affected by stroke across the South West of England. The Stroke Association relies on voluntary donations in order to continue the work, so the generous support of the airport and its passengers is greatly appreciated.”
Every year, an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke, which affects people of all ages. New treatments and ways of helping people are available and it is vital that action is taken to reduce death and disability. Mr Barrick went on to say; “Stroke is the number one cause of severe long term disability and the third most common cause of death in the UK. In England alone, more than 900,000 survivors live a life after stroke, many with profound disabilities.”
Adopted Charity 2007
Hospiscare is a local hospice charity offering high quality care and support to people with life-threatening illnesses and those close to them. They also employ specialised nurses in the community throughout Exeter, mid and east Devon.
The charity is extending the hospice in Exeter with a £1.3m project to improve facilities for patients and their families. The recent extension of the building, which took seven months to complete, has accommodation for relatives who are now able to stay close to their loved ones in new home-from-home accommodation.
In 2007 the work continues with projects to extend and improve the facilities to patients and carers who visit the hospice for special care and treatment. With the help of supporters, the charity will be able to provide a new complementary therapy room for use by day patients, carers and bereaved family members. The volunteer therapists will be able to give more people relaxing treatments when they have more space. Fifteen patients a day will benefit from these new facilities, with their carers safe in the knowledge that they have the best care whilst they have a break.
Patients from all across Exeter, mid and east Devon are secure in the knowledge that the hospice is there to provide emergency relief from distressing symptoms such as pain or breathing difficulties. If symptoms prove too difficult to control at home, patients are admitted to the 12-bed in-patient unit at the hospice in Exeter where there is round the clock nursing and medical care. The nurse to patient ratio is very high, so staff have time to offer a high level of support.
Hospiscare's chaplain is based at the hospice, and he gives spiritual support to patients and their carers. It is a relief to patients to know that trained volunteers can support family and carers in their bereavement.
Founded for the local community, Hospiscare is an independent charity which relies on the generosity of local people to raise most of the £3.5m a year needed to deliver their service. To complete phase two and make Hospiscare ready to face another 25 years, Hospiscare needs to raise £500,000.
Adopted Charity 2006
The charity's objects and principal activities continues to be those of:
Promoting and providing facilities for the care, education, training, treatment and welfare in their respective aspects of handicapped people. 
Advising, helping or catering for the needs of the parents or others having the care of handicapped people.
The core activities arising from these aims are the education of children with physical difficulties from the age of 2 to 12 at Vranch House School in Exeter and the provision of paediatric therapy and clinical treatment to children as outpatients at locations throughout Devon
Adopted Charity 2005
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association has been chosen as Exeter International Airport's “Charity of the Year” and the 12 months of fund raising, started in National Guide Dogs Week, with an official launch of the alliance on Friday 8 October 2004.
At the ceremony, Geoff Myers, airport's airport’s Managing Director, officially placed a number of life size model collection dogs and counter boxes in prominent positions with Geraldine Tracey, fund raising fundraising coordinator for Devon and Somerset.
Geraldine was also be introduced to airport's airport’s Security team, who suggested the sponsorship and who will play a major part in obtaining funds.
The airport is sponsoring a guide dog puppy called “Sharps”, who will make its public appearance when training commences. Much of the £5,000 required to sponsor “Sharps” will be raised from donations that the public make to reclaim sharp implements not allowed in aircraft cabins. This service carries a fee and all the money goes to the airport's charity of the year.
Mrs Tracey said; “We are delighted that Exeter International Airport has chosen Guide Dogs as their Charity of the Year. What makes this extra special is airport's airport’s sponsorship of a puppy who in the future will make a huge difference to a person's person’s life. The sponsorship money raised will be used to pay for the 18 month training period, including the payment of vets bills, food and toys.”
The ann
ouncement highlights airport's airport’s increased awareness of its responsibility to blind and partially sighted travellers, in light of recent amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act.
Shades Day on 21 June 2005 was the Dog's Dogs' fund raising fundraising and awareness initiative. The event was an fantastic opportunity to do something different, wear shades, have fun and help raise awareness of eye health and the sun.
Those taking part made a minimum donation of £1 to wear their shades on Shades Day. Having fun was what makes Shades Day such a great event but it does have a serious side too. People were made aware of the needs of those who are blind or have partial sight.
Sharps, the Guide Dog funded by users of the airport, also joined in the activities at the front of the terminal wearing a pair of sunglasses on his nose. His visit to the airport coincided with both Shades Day and the attainment of the £5,000 in contributions. The sum, which was reached in the first six months of the airport's association with the charity, and was enough to cover the expenses in the early stages of the dog's life through to training. Funding for a second dog continued until the end of 2005.
Tsunami 2005
Following the tsunami in south east Asia the airport sent a charity donation of £1,000 to the Disasters and Emergency Committee.
The DEC plans to spend up to £190 million in 2006, this will include more than 20,000 permanent houses, which will house around 100,000 men, women and children. Over ten thousand of the new homes will be in Indonesia, which was worst affected by the tsunami. Over six thousand will be in India, nearly three thousand in Sri Lanka and over a thousand spread across the other tsunami-hit countries. A major focus will be livelihoods.
Adopted Charity 2004
The Devon Air Ambulance Trust
The image of the bright red helicopter flying, often in remote areas, has a special place in the hearts and minds of the people of Devon. It is something that everyone in the county instantly recognises and approves of. Indeed, it is part of the county's identity and is the subject of thousands of fundraising fund raising, big and small, private and corporate to ensure it keeps flying. This is an important year for the charity as it looks forward to the delivery of a new helicopter which will be based here at Exeter International Airport. That is one of the reasons we have chosen the Devon Air Ambulance Trust as our charity for this year. We hope that you can help us in ensuring that DAAT meet it's fund raising targets this year.
Adopted Charity 2003
BIBC - British Institute for Brain Injured Children
During 2003, we were committed to supporting the British Institute for Brain Injured Children. The charity benefited substantially benefit from a full twelve-month's help.
Many of us take learning for granted. From birth we discover new skills and develop a fuller understanding of the world around us. For children with a learning difficulty this process isn't so easy. It can be difficult for them to make sense of the things others take for granted. BIBIC exists to help these children reach their full potential and live a fulfilling and personally more rewarding life. BIBIC's involvement also benefits carers too. Here's how....
Whatever the cause of a child's learning difficulties the effects are still profound. Working with parents and carers, BIBIC offers a valuable support system which offers time to talk, expert advice and practical help.
Individual programmes are produced to improve the quality of life for the whole family unit. Therapists teach the child's parents or carers how to help their child with a carefully tailored holistic programme combining physical exercise and activities, sensory stimulation, individual learning programmes and a comprehensive nutrition programme.
Progress is carefully monitored and programmes are adjusted as and when necessary.