A VIRGIN Unite Local Legends grant has been awarded to the 1st Wokingham Scout Group, thanks to a nomination from one of its Scouting volunteers.
The award offers £5,000 to a charity put forward by a Virgin employee, and was set up to celebrate members of the Virgin team who volunteer their spare time to the community
In this round of grants, 34 charities have been recognised across the UK.
Each charity has received £5,000, including the 1st Wokingham Scouts, which provides inclusive scouting to young people aged six to18.
The group also makes its Evendons Lane Scout hut and outdoor grounds available to groups such as astronomers, morris dancers, baby and child groups, and fitness groups.
It was nominated for the Local Legends award by Ria Joyce from Virgin Media 02.
Ria is head of Health and Safety at Virgin Media 02, and is also a volunteer with the 1st Wokingham Scout Group.
She said: “We’re embedded in our community, providing a whole range of inclusive experiences, activities and friendships to young people aged six to 18.
“ The £5000 genuinely makes such a difference.
“It’s really important that our facilities are safe for all users and this money will enable us to ensure that is the case moving forwards.”
Local Legends is a £1,000,000 fund managed by Virgin Unite.
Launched in 2023, it has so far distributed the best part of three quarters of a million pounds across four rounds of funding, to 123 charities.
Holly Branson, Chair of Virgin Unite and Chief Vision Officer at Virgin, said:
“It makes me so proud to see how time and again, so many Virgin employees step up to support their communities by volunteering with local charities.
“We passionately believe these people are true legends and should be celebrated. This is why we set up Local Legends with Virgin Unite, as a UK project to support local charities and recognise Virgin family members who give up their time to make a difference.”
The final two rounds of the grant will be distributed in 2026.
To receive the support, a charity must be nominated by a Virgin employee in the UK who volunteers for the charity.
For information, visit: unite.virgin.com and firstwokingham.org.uk
