Project Wingman Foundation Ltd was originally set up as a well-being charity with a very special purpose at a very difficult time for our country and our National Health Service.
We support frontline healthcare staff, through both the operation of mobile lounges and provision of preventative well-being training.
The Project Wingman Story
Founded in March 2020, Project Wingman was established by Chief Executive Officer Captain Emma Henderson and other like-minded individuals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Determined to support the well-being of our overworked and under-supported healthcare specialists, Project Wingman rallied 6000 grounded, furloughed and redundant airline workers to provide a listening ear, a cup of tea and empathetic understanding.
In our well-being lounges, a safe space was designated for our healthcare staff to decompress, de-stress and unwind during the working day. And soon, our training programmes followed.
“We’re proud to have operated 100 well-being lounges for healthcare professionals during the pandemic.”
Realising the impact, we were approached by the NHS to draw out preventative measures to feelings of overwhelm. And not long after, our preventative well-being course was born. Aimed at managing stress, reducing effort, improving effectiveness and enhancing patient care, our course was noted for changing workplace culture.
“When the world began to recover, Project Wingman’s focus turned to a mobile well-being lounge. This, we imagined, could travel the country to support as many healthcare workers as possible.”
In early 2021, as the world began its slow recovery to normality, our volunteers and colleagues returned to work and hospital admissions began to increase. In response, lounges were repurposed to frontline wards and facilities, and our attention turned to sourcing a mobile venue. Soon, ‘Wingman Wheels’ became our key focus.
Launched from the seats of a repurposed double decker bus, ‘Wellbee’ was our first vehicle in a soon to be fleet. Able to provide our famed ‘Tea & Empathy’ support from within our bespoke space, we were given the freedom to assist healthcare staff in settings where lounge space wasn’t previously available. And before long, demand for our service was so high that a sister vehicle, ‘Wingbee’, was sourced.
Since, our buses have travelled from Brighton to Dundee, Newport to Manston, to visit healthcare workers in need.
‘WingTips’, our own magazine packed full of advice and information to support the mental health of our care workers, has since joined the Project Wingman family. And as interest in our efforts grow, the notion of prioritising the well-being of our healthcare staff has ascended the agenda of many institutions.
Moving forward, we even plan to expand our services outside of healthcare, so that any individual who requires our emotional well-being support can access it.
Project Wingman Foundation Ltd works closely with each healthcare provider to ensure all government and individual trust requirements are met to enable safe operation of our mobile lounge and training services. These are updated regularly in line with the latest guidance.
Project Wingman Foundation operates as an independent initiative, not affiliated with any airline or NHS trust. All volunteer crew offer their time and support on a voluntary basis.
Mission
Our mission is simple. We aim to be world class leaders and pioneers in the field of well-being and positive mental health.
We aim to be renowned for providing coping mechanisms, methods of support and empathy to healthcare workers in need.
We aim to provide a safe space where healthcare workers can decompress, destress and unwind during the working day.
And above all, we aim to expand our services to aid anyone who requires emotional well-being support.
Be it a conversation with our cabin crew or a cup of tea with our pilot, we aim to put smiles on the faces of individuals up and down the country.
Vision
Our vision is clear. By offering an empathetic listening ear, our professionals intend to support the well-being of crucial healthcare workers across the UK.
To achieve this, we aspire to operate a fleet of mobile relaxation lounges that can cover every section of the country. Operated by aviation volunteers, these mobile lounges will share the values of customer care, communication, compassion and clarity.
Additionally, with the goal of making a positive impact on all that we come across, we’ll deliver high value preventative well-being training to manage stress, reduce effort, improve effectiveness and enhance patient care.
And in the future, we envision that our emotional well-being support will extend to anyone that requires it.
Values
Our values underpin our vital work in the community. They are;
Supportive Shoulder – We wholeheartedly harness the power of support to reimburse the care and kindness displayed in our society.
Listening Ear – We always listen to our service users’ concerns, and endeavour to help in any scenario where we can.
United By Profession – We are professionals who share a common goal; to put the mental health and well-being of others first.
First Class Service – We strive to provide a first class service that is recognised for customer care, communication, compassion and clarity.
Dare To Make A Statement – We aim to make an impact wherever we go, by boldly highlighting the statements that underpin the importance of positive well-being.
Well-being For All – We will eventually expand our services to provide emotional well-being support for all.
Our Gallery
A snapshot of Project Wingman in action
Donate
As a charity, we rely on the generosity of the public and other companies to support us with our work.
Our Team
Meet our wonderful team! We couldn’t do this without the dedication of so many talented individuals.
Our Testimonials
Making a real difference to real frontline healthcare workers.
Since Project Wingman was established, we’ve received plenty of kind and thoughtful words about the impact our work has had.
Below, you’ll find just a few of our favourite testimonials provided by hospital and trust management, healthcare staff and our own volunteers.
WHAT WE DO
Focused on providing a safe space to decompress, de-stress and unwind during the working day, we aim to match the care that our healthcare workers display in the community.
“With first class service at the heart of all we do, our mobile lounges create a necessary impact wherever they go.”
Mobile Lounges
A fleet of converted double decker buses, transformed into bespoke mobile lounges. Designed to produce a first class statement on the imperative of well-being, our mobile lounges provide a relaxed, informal and versatile space where healthcare workers can recharge their batteries.
Preventative Wellbeing
Through the provision of preventative well-being training, we also instil useful mechanisms to help healthcare workers manage stress, reduce effort, improve effectiveness and enhance patient care.
Peer Support
Human factors training, peer support programmes and having the ability to communicate in stressful situations are all skills which can directly transfer to the healthcare industry.
All this, and more, we do with the support of our staff and volunteers. Serving the aviation industry during their working hours, they embed shared values of customer care, communication, compassion and clarity into our oasis away from the normal day-to-day.
In the future, we even aim to expand our services to provide emotional well-being support for every individual who needs it.
Without your support none of this is possible….
HOW CAN I HELP?
Volunteer
Without volunteers this wouldn’t be possible…
Current or former airline employee? Click below to join our list of volunteers and we’ll keep you posted with upcoming events.
Support us
Without donations this wouldn’t be possible…
If you represent a company, service organisation, or grant-giving trust and would like to support us, please contact us at info@projectwingman.co.uk.
We apologise, but unfortunately Project Wingman is not accepting donations from the general public at present.
HAPPENING NOW
Our latest news and events. See what we’ve been up to recently, view upcoming events and discover more about Project Wingman.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
These are the companies who have supported Project Wingman by making donations and providing supplies to our lounges. Their generosity has been invaluable.
Our Volunteers
Working together to make an impact, our airline crew represent the heart of Project Wingman.
Otherwise known as ‘Winglets’, our volunteers are at the core of all that we do. In their tenacity and determination, they’ve helped Project Wingman provide more than 50 years worth of support.
Current and former aircrew coming together to make a difference. If you would like to help out, please register!
About Volunteering
Both behind the scenes and on the front line, our volunteers work tirelessly in improving the lives of others. And in turn, we provide a national support network as our aviation colleagues recover from an unprecedented time in history.
During the pandemic, we helped our colleagues regain a sense of purpose. And since, they’ve helped hundreds of frontline healthcare workers manage stress, reduce effort, improve effectiveness and enhance patient care.
“After being furloughed, Project Wingman gave me back my sense of purpose and belonging.”
At Project Wingman, we’re always on the lookout for people who share our commitment and want to get involved. And as with many charities, we have plenty of different roles available: from basic admin, marketing and lounge volunteers, all the way to driving.
Whether you’re current or former air crew, or work in the aviation industry in general, we need you! We also need volunteers from the hospitality and customer service sectors who can help us deliver our first-class experience.
To explore our current vacancies, both on a paid and volunteer basis, you can view our vacancies below, or sign up to our volunteer database to be alerted of any future opportunities.
How It Works…
- Fill out our simple volunteer registration form.
- Gain access to our volunteer training documents.
- We will then contact you when the bus is next in your area.
- Come along and support for our NHS heroes!
Who Can Volunteer?
- Any current airline crew member
- Airline retirees
- Airline ground staff
- Those with experience in required areas
Register Today!
Fill out our simple volunteer registration form to get started!
Vacancies
Do you want to help us provide vital well-being support to those who need it the most?
Explore our paid and voluntary vacancies in the section below. If you see an opportunity that suits you, simply get in touch.
![Donate Hero [Optimised]](https://projectwingman.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Donate-Hero-Optimised-683x1024.jpg)
Support Us
Support us
If you represent a company, service organisation, or grant-giving trust and would like to support us, please contact us at info@projectwingman.co.uk.
We apologise, but unfortunately Project Wingman is not accepting donations from the general public at present.
![Donate Hero [Optimised]](https://projectwingman.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Donate-Hero-Optimised.jpg)
Why support us?
Grant funding helps us support the welfare of NHS workers across the UK. Your money will be used to:
- Fund our mobile bus lounges
- Pay for fuel to get our lounges to where they’re needed
- Provide peer support to those who need it
- Support the complex administration of volunteers, courses and mobile lounges
- Fund the marketing of our charity
Previous supporters
These are the organisations that have supported Project Wingman in the past. Without this support we would not be able to deliver what we do …
Support
Our Services
Programmes designed to support the well-being of frontline healthcare staff.
Static Lounges
Run by staff and volunteers, our static lounges can be set up in any suitable setting. Subject to colleague availability, they can be established as a permanent fixture or on a pop up basis.
To ensure that our static lounges provide the highest level of mental health care for frontline health workers, we’ll train volunteers to do things ‘The Wingman Way’. Ultimately, this training will allow you to create a permanent and sustainable well-being presence in your setting.
Mobile Lounges
Wingman Wheels – Repurposed double decker buses, our mobile lounges provide an executive relaxation space on wheels.
Advocating a loud well-being statement across your staff body, they’re fully equipped with an onboard kitchen and service centre, allowing us to be completely self-sufficient in providing mental health care.
Our ‘Wingman Wheels’ fleet are operated using both volunteers and, on some occasions, paid crew.
Preventative Wellbeing Training
In addition to our lounges, our training programme is designed to provide attendees with sound well-being and human factors knowledge.
In turn, our healthcare workers can implement this in their daily routine to better their own working and home lives.
Our preventative well-being training is delivered in conjunction with industry professionals LMQ.
Peer Support
While Project Wingman greatly appreciates the generosity and selflessness of its volunteers, it recognises that providing this service many be tough for many in this difficult time.
We work in partnership with the Centre for Aviation Psychology (leading providers of peer support within aviation) to support our Project Wingman volunteers.
If you are a Project Wingman volunteer and would like to speak to one of our trained peers regarding a personal challenge you are experiencing, let us know by sending your contact details and availability to wingmanpeer@centreforaviationpsychology.com and a peer will arrange a time to call you within the next 24hrs.
Click here for more information along with our T&Cs.
Our Buses
When aircrew began returning to the skies, or other jobs on the ground (and often in the NHS), we decided to take well-being on the road with our bespoke double decker buses.
Meet Wingbee and Wellbee and look out for new additions as they join our team
Wellbee
Launched at Homerton University Hospitals Trust in February 2021, Wellbee has now toured the country delivering well-being support to even more of our hard working NHS staff.
With a raised perspex roof, smart galley, and flexible seating area, the inside space is welcoming and relaxing.
The awning, deckchairs and picket fencing for the outside allow us to extend the space we can use on dry days too.
Wingbee
Our second bus Wingbee joined the team in July 2021, launching at East Grinstead and has also toured the length and breadth of the country.
Wingbee also has a raised perspex roof, with a different layout inside.
The downstairs galley allows for comfortable seating and a large upstairs seating area which is light and airy.
