Rosie May Foundation given £250 to deliver support for the lonely

A charity has been given a £250 donation to help it deliver support across Newark and Nottinghamshire.

The donation has been given to the Rosie May Foundation by Via East Midlands.

Ruby the pink tuk tuk from the charity stopped by at Via’s Bilsthorpe depot to collect the donation and to charge at Via’s recently installed charge points.

The donation will help pay for Cake And Chat sessions, which aim to help people experiencing loneliness as a result of social isolation during the pandemic.

Through lockdown, the Rosie May Foundation has delivered food and medical supplies using the tuk tuk.

Nicola Brien, corporate and events fundraiser for the Rosie May Foundation, said: “I’d like to thank the fantastic team at Via for their donation, which will enable us and our electric Tuk Tuk Ruby to provide 100 cake and doorstep chats for lonely people across Newark and Nottinghamshire over the winter months.

“Our visits have become a lifeline to those who are most socially-isolated, and Ruby has become a symbol of joy within the community.”

Via managing director Doug Coutts said: “We are acutely aware of the effects the pandemic had on some people and are greatly appreciative of the support given to our local community by the Rosie May Foundation.

“We’re pleased this donation will allow them to continue with their great work throughout Nottinghamshire.”

“It was also great to have Ruby the EV Tuk Tuk stop by at Bilsthorpe for a charge on our recently installed charge points, a service we can now offer to homes and businesses throughout the East Midlands.”

Civil engineer company Via has recently expanded into the EV industry, introducing fully electric vans into their fleet, as well as adding the installation of workplace and home charge point to its services on offer.

Via’s fleet team also provides a range of services for electric vehicle owners and operators, with a team of EV trained technicians able to maintain and repair everything from electric buses to privately-owned electric vehicles.