A Classic Collection business trainee is the first recipient of the Abta LifeLine bursary in memory of industry veteran Colin Heal, who died last year.
Melissa Camp, who works four days a week for the operator and studies one day a week towards a business management degree at the University of Chichester, will have her next year’s degree fees paid for by the bursary.
Melissa was 19 when she was left to look after her brother Stuart, 15, following the sudden death of their father Pete from lung cancer in April this year.
She moved her brother, who suffers from Asperger syndrome, from their home in Peacehaven, East Sussex, to her then boyfriend’s family home nearby.
With debts mounting, she considered giving up her degree to work full-time to cover her and her brother’s food and rent bills.
“My brother was my number-one priority and I ended up being his sole carer. But I was getting in a lot of debt,” said Melissa, now 20.
After applying to Abta LifeLine, Melissa was chosen to receive the first bursary named after Heal, former Worldchoice chairman and vice-chairman of Abta LifeLine.
The annual bursary awards up to £2,000 for up to three years towards career development, and is supported by Travel Weekly.
Abta LifeLine also awarded Melissa a financial hardship grant of £1,000. She said: “I actually cried when they told me. It was a massive weight off my mind and will help me get back on my feet. It’s only recently I’ve been able to grieve,” added Melissa.
Trudie Drake, director of Abta LifeLine, said: “The board felt Melissa was a very worthy recipient. It was clear if we didn’t step in she would have to quit her education.”