SAINSBURY'S PRINCESS SQUARE MEETS WITH THEIR LOCAL CHARITY OF THE YEAR

The Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust has been selected as the partner charity to Sainsbury's in Bracknell's Princess Square after a vote on which charity to support by customers and store colleagues.

The charity will receive help from Sainsbury's colleagues who will give their time through volunteer work. The unique and vital emergency service of the air ambulance, which covers Berks, Oxon and Bucks will receive funds from activities organised by store colleagues throughout the year.

Pat Conafray, Corporate Fundraising Manager for the trust, recently escorted a group of Sainsbury's colleagues to the base at RAF Benson so they could to meet the paramedics and pilot who fly on the helicopter.

It also gave them the opportunity to ask the crew about their work.

At the end of the visit, Mr Conafray said: "This is a fantastic initiative from Sainsbury's and we are delighted to be chosen by the Princess Square store. We need to raise £2 million this year and we know that working closely with the staff will result in a truly meaningful contribution to our income. It's also going to be great fun!"

Sainsbury's store colleague, Deborah Simpson, who was involved in the selection process, said: "The Air Ambulance really stood out as a local charity that we could really benefit through volunteering and fundraising. It's great to be supporting such a worthwhile charity."

Francis Thomas. Sainsbury's store manager, said "We are really pleased and excited to support the Air Ambulance. The hard work starts now, but I can definitely see our store building a strong relationship with them."

Further information is available by visiting www.tvacaa.org