Hays Travel Foundation hits £2m in donations in 10th anniversary year

The Hays Travel Foundation has revealed it has now donated £2 million to support young people since it was set up 10 years ago.

Since 2015, the foundation has worked with 353 charities to help more than 43,000 young people reach their potential in health, sport, the arts and education. 

Dame Irene Hays, chair of the foundation’s trustees, said reaching the £2 million milestone was  a “spectacular achievement”, adding: “I am incredibly proud to have been able to support so many young people in the 10 years since establishing the Hays Travel Foundation.” 

Most of the money donated through the foundation comes from via Hays Travel branches, which number nearly 500 across the UK.

As a result of support from the foundation, which celebrated its £1 million milestone in 2022, a total of 169 young people have been supported to start the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme. The foundation aims to help 190 people start the programme by the end of May.

The Duke of Edinburgh funding has helped to cover the cost of equipment and clothing, as well as travel costs for volunteering.

In addition to the Hays Travel Foundation, every Hays Travel branch receives a £500 annual budget to use for fundraising and charity work in its local area. Of the budget, £200 must be allocated to causes that support young people’s mental health.

Branches can also apply to the foundation for match funding, doubling the donation to registered charities.

In the year to April 2025, Hays Travel donated £177,837 to local charities through its Local Community Partnership initiative across its retail network.