Heathrow Airport has unveiled that it aims to donate £6.5million to local charities and community groups by 2030.

The pledge is part of Heathrow's Giving Back Programme which was announced on January 31 and aims at helping one million local people by the end of the decade.

The programme also includes environmental initiatives, access to employment and skill development for young people.

Heathrow Airport has said the plan comes at a time when the airport hopes to "reassert its commitment to the local community" making the area "a great place to live and work".

The programme follows last year's ‘Heathrow 2.0’ sustainability strategy, which set out clear ambitions for this decade with feedback from local communities to determine what is most important to them.

Heathrow Airport used the feedback to understand local priorities and how it can strive to be a better neighbour.

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye welcomed the new report, commenting: “Our Giving Back Programme is a clear reflection of what the local community has told us over the last year and our way of saying loudly and clearly that being a responsible neighbour will always be a priority.

"We’ve listened to the community’s views and the overriding message was clear - Heathrow must become a connector in the community once more.

"That means connecting people with new employment opportunities, with nature and the local environment, and ensuring funding remains in place for vital local institutions.

"This programme is the first step of a long-term plan to inspire people to move here because of the airport, not in spite of it.”

Heathrow Airport's programme of initiatives includes:

  • Doubling the number of schools it supports through its Local Schools Partnership
  • Launching an employability programme (Heathrow World of Work) to connect young people in the community with first-hand experiences of the workplace 
  • Helping more than 10,000 local people find jobs, apprenticeships and early career opportunities
  • Donating £1million per year to local groups, primarily via the Heathrow Community Trust
  • Preserving green spaces through community rangers who work closely with local groups, schools and councils to improve the environment through gardening and landscaping initiatives.
  • Increasing the hours Heathrow employees devote to volunteering in local community projects 

Heathrow continues to offer regular opportunities for local residents to share their thoughts and invites the public to give their opinion on how the Giving Back Programme is progressing through its Annual Local Community Survey and ongoing Community Forums.