Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire has chosen Radio City’s Cash for Kids as its official charity partner in Merseyside.

The announcement followed the unveiling of a special Cash for Kids branded bus which aims to increase awareness of the charity, attracting both fundraisers and grant applications from those in need. The bus will operate from Stagecoach’s Gillmoss depot and will be used on bus routes across the city.

The two year partnership will see the Stagecoach drivers and team get behind the charity, which is part of Bauer Radio’s network of local charities that benefit local, disadvantaged youngsters. Fundraising activities already in the pipeline include raffles and events.

Carole Clare, fundraising manager at Radio City’s Cash for Kids, said: “The ‘Cash for Kids’ bus looks fantastic, it will really help raise our profile and let people know that we fundraise all year round and distribute grants to children’s charities and community groups right here in our local area.

The staff are being incredibly enthusiastic and have generated lots of creative fundraising ideas so we are very much looking forward to supporting them throughout the partnership.”

Elisabeth Tasker, managing director of Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire, said:

“A lot of our passengers are young people under 18 and tackling the issues facing youngsters in our communities is a cause that really resonates with us.

“We felt a real affinity with the Cash for Kids vision and we’re delighted to be ‘on board’ with the team and to be partnering with such a fantastic charity, which has such a positive impact on the lives of the young people around us.

“The launch of our dedicated Cash for Kids bus was an exciting start to what we’re sure will be a very fruitful partnership and our drivers and the rest of the team are already planning a number of fundraising activities.”