London Southend Airport announces Havens Hospices as new charity partner 2026
London Southend Airport has today announced Havens Hospices as its new official charity partner, following a staff-wide vote.
The airport previously partnered with South East and Central Essex Mind for five years, raising more than £50,000 in funds and awareness for mental health support across the region. Building on that strong legacy of community engagement, the airport recently invited local charities to apply for its next long-term partnership opportunity.
After receiving an overwhelming number of applications, a shortlist of five charities was presented to airport colleagues, who were invited to vote for their preferred partner. Havens Hospices, which provides specialist care and support for people of all ages living with incurable conditions across Essex, was selected overall.
Through the partnership, London Southend Airport will support the local hospice charity with year-round fundraising initiatives, awareness campaigns across its terminal and digital platforms, volunteering opportunities for colleagues, and events designed to engage passengers and the wider community.
Jo Marchetti, Corporate & Social Responsibility Manager at London Southend Airport, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Havens Hospices as our new charity partner. Our colleagues felt strongly about supporting a charity that touches so many local families, and Havens Hospices does exactly that. We’re proud to use our platform, people and passenger reach to help raise vital funds and awareness, and we’re excited to get started.”
Vanessa Harvey, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Havens Hospice said: “We’re incredibly grateful to London Southend Airport for choosing Havens Hospices as their charity partner. Partnerships like this help us continue providing specialist care and support to babies, children and adults living with complex or incurable conditions across Essex. We’re looking forward to working together with the airport team and the local community to raise awareness and vital funds so we can be there for every family that needs us.”
The new partnership will commence this spring, with fundraising activity already being planned across the airport.
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About London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport was the UK’s fastest growing airport in 2025, with a 150% increase in passengers compared to 2024. This year, the airport will offer 26 destinations, with new routes to Jersey, Ibiza and Munich launching over the summer. Our dedicated on-site train station ensures seamless connectivity, with a 10-minute train-to-gate time and direct services from Stratford, London in 43 minutes and London Liverpool Street in just 52 minutes.
Renowned for sensational customer experience, we manage all key operations in-house, delivering an easy, speedy, friendly journey from arrival to departure. easyJet passengers rank us among the UK’s top airports for satisfaction and our own private London Southend Jet Centre is the fastest-growing in the country.