Hays Travel Foundation hails ‘hugely rewarding year’ after donating £300k

The Hays Travel Foundation has donated £303,000 over the past year to support young people across the UK.

The foundation, which has contributed more than £2.3 million since it was set up in 2015, gave donations to 68 charities in the last 12 months.

Toni Gibson, Hays Travel’s head of sales operations and community initiatives, said: “It has been another hugely rewarding year for the Hays Travel Foundation. It’s always so inspiring working with the charities we support, hearing how the money is spent and [seeing] the very real impact it has on people’s lives.”

Dundee-based charity For the Love of a Child provides drama, art, music and play therapy to children and families who have suffered trauma, loss and mental health challenges.

Its grant from the Hays Travel Foundation enabled it to organise five full days of creative activities for 25 children in its first-ever Big Heart Art and Wellbeing holiday programme.

Donna Jennings, the charity’s founder and director, said: “The children really enjoyed the week but also grew in confidence, developed friendships and learned new creative skills to express themselves.”

London-based The Children’s Book Project used its grant to run pop-up bookshop events for disadvantaged children at eight schools in Birmingham.

One teacher said: “The programme has significantly promoted a love of reading among our students.

“It has sparked genuine excitement around books, with students engaging more enthusiastically in discussions about genres and authors.

“We’ve also seen an increase in book swapping as students eagerly share recommendations and exchange their favourite reads with one another in class.”

Other projects supported include an outdoors adventure with YMCA Norfolk, Family Gateway’s Fossil Club, swimming lessons for Downpatrick Autism Family Support Group, and Young and Inspired’s Water Warrior project.

A parent whose children took part in the Water Warrior project said: “For the first time, both my children are included. That’s huge for our family.”

Young and Inspired helps to empower young families facing adverse childhood experiences and struggling with poor mental health.

Hays Travel chair Dame Irene Hays said: “Ever since Hays Travel was formed in 1980, being part of the community and helping where we can has been part of our ethos. It is part of our team’s DNA and it always has been.

 
“Building on this, in 2015 we created The Hays Travel Foundation. The foundation works with organisations that support people who, for one reason or another, need a bit of help to achieve their potential.”