Swansea Building Society Arena has unveiled a significant new charity partnership for 2026, teaming up with the Wales Air Ambulance Charity to celebrate the lifesaving service's 25th anniversary year.
A Year-Long Commitment to Fundraising
Since its opening in 2022, the arena has welcomed close to one million visitors through its doors for performances by global stars. Building on its commitment to the community, the venue's team is now planning a comprehensive programme of activities throughout 2026 to raise both funds and awareness for the helicopter charity.
Plans include organising bucket collections at a selection of major shows across the year. Furthermore, arena staff will personally take on fundraising challenges, including participating in the Heli Paws event and securing charity places in the Cardiff Half Marathon.
Supporting a Vital Public Service
Venue director, Matt Blackhouse, explained the decision: "A big part of what we do is engaging with the local community and supporting charitable organisations. What really struck our team was that it is purely funded by charitable donations, costing £13 million to run annually."
He added that with roughly 250,000 people visiting the arena each year, many will have been directly or indirectly touched by the air ambulance's critical work. "That is why we feel it is so important to support the charity," Blackhouse stated.
An Exciting Calendar of Events
The fundraising drive will coincide with a packed entertainment schedule for 2026. The arena's line-up includes shows such as MAMMA MIA! and When Gavin Met Stacey in January, followed by performances from Strictly: The Professionals, Alfie Boe, and Professor Brian Cox later in the year.
Christian Sullivan, regional fundraising manager for Wales Air Ambulance, expressed gratitude: "Swansea Building Society Arena is such an iconic entertainment venue... We are hugely grateful to the whole team for supporting a year-long charity partnership." He praised the arena team's passion, noting they had already signed up for events and were "only just getting started."
The Lifesaving Work of Wales Air Ambulance
The Wales Air Ambulance operates as a consultant-led service, delivering hospital-standard critical care directly to patients across Wales. Its advanced crews can administer anaesthesia and blood transfusions at the scene. If required, they can then transport patients directly to the most appropriate hospital.
It is a unique partnership between the third sector and the NHS. The charity must raise £13 million every year solely from public donations to keep its helicopters flying and rapid response vehicles on the road, enabling its crews to continue their daily lifesaving missions across the country.
