Abta LifeLine is urging the industry to give support year-round through its per employee pledge after raising £34,000 at this year’s Abta Travel Convention.
The charity held a cycle ride, raffle and auction at the convention, and also received a donation from Royal Caribbean.
Director Trudie Clements made the call for more permanent support for the charity during the convention, asking travel firms to sign up to its £2 per employee pledge.
She said: “Abta LifeLine is there for people at the hardest times in their lives – whether that’s financial assistance whilst someone is on long term sick, vital debt advice or counselling support after a bereavement or relationship breakdown.
“The charity provides timely support to help people get through these difficult moments, and many more, but we can only do that if the funds are there.
“It’s been great seeing the enthusiasm and support for LifeLine over the last few days, and my thanks goes to all of those involved; we now need to see that commitment to the cause extend beyond the convention. We are here for your people, and we need you to be here for us.”
The employee pledge asks companies to donate the equivalent of £2 per employee. For example, if a business has 10 employees, it would donate £20, if a company has 2,000 employees, it would donate £4,000.
Firms that have already signed up to the £2 per employee appeal include Tui, easyJet holidays, Blue Bay Travel, Kuoni, G Adventures, Seabourn, and Dawson and Sanderson.
Examples of how the money is spent include emergency support, with vouchers to buy groceries; crisis grants to help with bills and rent; energy vouchers for pre-payment meters; essential household appliances such as fridges and washing machines; funerals; essentials for children such as school uniforms.
The charity also provides finance and housing advice through Citizen Advice Manchester and counselling and wellbeing support, through The Centre for Crisis Psychology.
Clements added: “We know that times are tough for personal finances right now and this makes individual giving and fundraising much more difficult, which is why we’re really keen for members to get involved via corporate giving through the £2 per employee appeal. The money will be used to support those who are in serious need and help people through the toughest times in their lives.”
More: Donate on the Abta LifeLine website [External]
Abta LifeLine predicts rise in demand for support from trade this winter