Hays Travel agents raise thousands for local charities

Hays Travel agents across the UK have raised thousands of pounds for local charities after completing a series of fundraising events including a 15,000-foot skydive and a community coach trip.

Staff at the agency’s Honiton branch collected more than £850 for The Baton, a local charity supporting armed forces veterans and their families.

The team ran a three-week campaign featuring a tombola with prizes donated by local businesses, a ‘guess the name of the elephant’ competition, and the sale of children’s goody bags.

In recognition of their efforts, the branch was awarded The Baton Trophy, presented annually by the charity’s trustees for the most outstanding contribution to the cause.

The Baton founder Alan Rowe MBE visited the branch alongside Deputy Lord Lieutenant Gordon Evans MBE and representatives from Ssafa, the Armed Forces charity, to present the award.

Rowe said: “The team at Hays Travel are a credit to Honiton, with their incredible commitment to making a difference to a local charity, and their warmth of welcome to all who participated. We cannot thank them enough.”

Honiton branch manager Christie Wantling added: “We chose this charity as quite often the veterans get forgotten. I’m so proud of all the team for getting involved and I would like to thank my colleague Kerran in particular, for all her efforts in making the event such a success.”

Meanwhile, the Whitley Bay branch organised a day trip to Harrogate for nearly 50 customers, raising just over £1,000 for the North Tyneside Disability Forum. Agents Ellie Joslyn and Emily David entertained guests, hosting bingo, raffles, and domino card games during the journey.

Whitley Bay branch manager Darren Wetherell said: “Our coach trips are a fab way to engage with our community and are attended by a lot of our regulars throughout the year. We like to work with local charities which do not get a lot of funding nationally as it keeps the money in our community.”

Elsewhere, Ruby Spence Bridge, an agent at Hays Travel’s Oldham branch, completed a 15,000-foot skydive at Skydive Hibaldstow in Lincolnshire. She has raised £400 to date for Positive Steps Young Carers, which supports young carers and their families in the local area.

Spence Bridge said: “It was one of the best things I have ever done and I will definitely be doing it again. My advice to others is just do it – it’s such an amazing feeling.”