Leonardo Yeovil team raises £64,000 for two charities in two-year fundraising drive

A young team of engineers at Leonardo’s Yeovil site has raised £64,000 for two local charities over the past two years, with the money now set to support men’s mental-health groups and emergency NHS deliveries across the region.

The fundraising total will be divided equally between ANDYSMANCLUB and Yeovil Free Wheelers Blood Bikes. Apprentices, graduates and placement students from Leonardo came together to present the cheque during a special celebration at Westlands entertainment venue earlier this month.

How the Leonardo fundraising was raised

The campaign was organised through Leonardo’s charity and social committee. Dozens of young people took part in community events, personal challenges and other initiatives alongside their work and studies.

The fundraising brought together members of the company’s early-careers community, including apprentices, graduates and placement students based at the Yeovil site. The donation is intended to help both charities continue their work in Somerset and the wider South West.

Where the money will go

ANDYSMANCLUB provides free peer-to-peer support groups for men. Its share of the funding will be used to support weekly sessions and awareness-raising activities.

Yeovil Free Wheelers Blood Bikes operates a volunteer-run emergency delivery service across Somerset and Dorset. Its volunteers transport blood products, medical supplies and equipment for the NHS.

The charity said its volunteers completed more than 2,653 out-of-hours deliveries last year. The donation will help fund a new medical bike, supporting the service’s emergency delivery work.

Nigel Colman, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters UK, described the fundraising as an “incredible achievement”.

“Our early careers community continually demonstrates what can be achieved when talent, determination and a sense of purpose come together. Raising £64,000 for two outstanding local charities is an incredible achievement and one that will make a lasting difference to people across Somerset and the wider South West.”

Ben Beach, the outgoing AWASA chair, said the group wanted to “make a genuine difference in our local community” when the fundraising began.

Both charities have thanked Leonardo’s early-careers community for its support. The money is now set to fund their continuing work across Somerset and the wider South West, including ANDYSMANCLUB’s weekly support sessions and Yeovil Free Wheelers Blood Bikes’ planned new medical bike.