Captain Emma Henderson founded Project Wingman in 2020.

Witnessing the stress and burnout faced by frontline healthcare staff during the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity set out to create a ‘first-class airline lounge’ experience, providing them with a much-needed space to decompress and recharge, away from the unique and untold pressures of their workplace.

From 100 wellbeing lounges housed within converted double decker buses, over 6000 grounded, furloughed and redundant airline workers volunteered their time, to provide a listening ear, a cup of tea and empathetic understanding.

Realising the impact, the charity was approached by the NHS to draw out preventative measures to feelings of overwhelm and a preventative well-being course was subsequently launched, aimed at managing stress, reducing effort, improving effectiveness and enhancing patient care.

A training programme soon followed and today Project Wingman Foundation Ltd works closely with healthcare providers to ensure all government and individual trust requirements are met to enable safe operation of its mobile lounge and training services.

Logo for Project Wingman featuring an airplane and a heartbeat line inside a circular swirl, with text and establishment year 2020

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.

Find out more about Project Wingman.

In recognition of her work with Project Wingman, Emma was awarded an MBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honours list.

Awarded by both HM Queen and HRH Prince Phillip, she was presented with the award in May 2022 by HRH Prince Charles at Windsor Castle.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair smiling and holding a medal in a case. She is wearing a white blazer over a blue dress with a floral pattern and a pearl necklace. She has a large blue hat with an elaborate design. Behind her is a historic stone castle with arched windows and a well-maintained green lawn.

Other notable awards and nominations for Emma & Project Wingman include:

A woman in a navy coat and scarf with medals and a mask is talking to another woman in a blazer with a floral dress and a mask, while several women in business casual attire are standing in a line, all wearing masks, in a formal room with framed pictures and red curtains.
Four women standing together at an event with a backdrop featuring logos and text, smiling for the photo, dressed in professional attire.