Sustainability: Community schemes and grants
While Heathrow makes a positive contribution to both the national economy and the local economy through encouraging improvements in education, employment and business, we are aware of the negative impacts our airport has on some of our closest neighbours.
We are committed to minimising these negative impacts through our community noise schemes, which aim to provide relief from noise to our neighbouring communities.
At the same time, we offer valuable support to local people through our charitable support and grants, which focus on:
- Education and skills, including environmental education and creating opportunities for young people.
- Protecting and improving the local environment.
- Bringing communities together.
Our strategy
We aim to manage Heathrow's charitable support and grants, and community noise schemes through the following objectives:
1. Operate community noise schemes that mitigate the negative impacts of Heathrow in our neighbouring communities
Key initiatives we intend to continue during 2012
- Residential Day Noise Insulation Scheme
- This scheme provides sound insulation to residential buildings near to the airport within a defined boundary.
Find out more - Residential Night Noise Insulation Scheme
- This domestic insulation scheme is designed to protect nearby residents who are regularly exposed to noise from night flights who are within a defined boundary.
Find out more - Community Buildings Noise Insulation Scheme
- This domestic insulation scheme is designed to protect nearby residents who are regularly exposed to noise from night flights who are within a defined boundary. A review of our noise mitigation schemes in 2012 will be subject to public consultation.
Find out more - Vortex Protection Scheme
- This scheme enables repairs to eligible homes, schools, churches or hospitals which suffer roof damage due to vortex strikes.
Find out more - Home Relocation Assistance Scheme
- Homeowners within a defined area may qualify for financial assistance with the costs of moving away from areas with high levels of aircraft noise.
Find out more
2. Offer charitable support and grants which meet a variety of needs through to communities affected by Heathrow's operations
Support for charities
- Heathrow's charity of the year is chosen by our staff. This year, we hope to raise £150,000 for Help for Heroes through fundraising events and passenger collections.
- Passenger collections also take place regularly through Heathrow's terminals, supporting Comic Relief, Children in Need and the Poppy Appeal.
- Employee match funding is available to Heathrow Airport Ltd staff involved in their own charitable fundraising.
Grants - Community and Environment Awards
- Large grants of up to £50,000 are awarded twice a year and enable communities to benefit from the fines that airlines pay if they breach the Government’s departure noise limits.
- Small grants of up to £2,500 are awarded six times a year using money donated by Heathrow's owners, Heathrow Airport Ltd, the Community Fund and through passenger coin collections.
- Heathrow's charity of the year is chosen by our staff. This year, we hope to raise £150,000 for Help for Heroes through fundraising events and passenger collections.
Heathrow Community Fund
- The Heathrow Community Fund (part of the BAA Charities Trust) is an independently run trust, funded by Heathrow Airport Ltd, offering grants for a range of local community projects.
For more information contact heathrowcommunityrelations@baa.com or call 020 8745 5791.
