Red Funnel Raises More Than £10,000 For Friends Of The Animals

Red Funnel has raised more than £10,000 for its Charity of the Year, Friends of the Animals, during the first six months of their partnership.

The fundraising total has been achieved thanks to the support of customers and staff, with money raised through ticket sales, donations at ferry terminals, teddy tombolas and the sale of unclaimed lost property.

Three members of Red Funnel staff also took part in this year's Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge, raising more than £1,000 for the Island charity. Friends of the Animals staff and supporters raised a further £3,000 through the event.

Among those taking part was Deck Hand Emily Syvret, who completed the gruelling 106km challenge – her first Ultra Challenge – in 25 hours and 32 minutes.

Alongside fundraising, Red Funnel has also donated food and treats to animals supported by the charity's Golden Paws Club, helped produce promotional materials for community events and supported Friends of the Animals at this year's Isle of Wight Festival, where its glitter painting stall proved popular with festivalgoers.

With another six months remaining in the partnership, the ferry operator is encouraging customers to continue supporting the charity by making donations whenever they travel.

Fran Collins, Chief Executive of Red Funnel, said:

"Reaching the £13,000 mark is a fantastic milestone, but we're not stopping there.

"Together with our customers and colleagues, we're determined to make the second half of the year even bigger and raise as much as we possibly can for Friends of the Animals.

"The charity helps thousands of much-loved animals every year, and we know how important pets and wildlife are to our Island community.

"We're asking everyone to join us in getting behind the partnership, because every donation helps provide food, treatment and a second chance for animals that need it most."

Friends of the Animals has been supporting animals across the Isle of Wight for almost 36 years, providing emergency veterinary care, operating a pet food bank, funding neutering programmes and helping vulnerable animals find a second chance.

Founder Helen Sinclair MBE said:

"We are so grateful to everyone at Red Funnel and to all of their wonderful customers who have supported us over the past six months.

"Reaching £10,000 is an incredible achievement, and the additional support we've received through food donations, promotional materials and community events has made such a difference.

"Every pound raised helps us continue our work caring for sick, injured and unwanted animals, while supporting the families who love them.

"We can't thank everyone enough and look forward to seeing what we can achieve together during the rest of the year."

Customers can continue supporting Friends of the Animals by donating at Red Funnel terminals and taking part in upcoming fundraising events throughout the remainder of 2026.