ABTA LifeLine Director Trudie Clements praised the generosity of delegates at the ABTA Travel Convention in Greece, but stressed the need for year-round support for the charity.
Delegates attending the overseas conference, held at Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese, raised £17,000 via a charity cycle ride, a raffle and an auction over three days last week.
ABTA LifeLine is asking companies to continue to support the charity by donating 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 on an annual basis.
“ABTA LifeLine is there for industry colleagues and their families at the hardest times in their lives. The charity provides much needed support to help people manage these difficult times but we can only do that if the funds are there,” said Trudie.
“It’s been great seeing the characteristic enthusiasm and support for LifeLine here in Greece but we now need to see that commitment to carry on throughout the year.
“We’re really keen for members to get involved via corporate giving through the £2 per employee appeal, joining businesses such as TUI, easyJet holidays, Blue Bay Travel, Kuoni, Barrhead, Inspiretec among others.”
Members interested in supporting the appeal can email Trudie’s team at [email protected] for more information.
Some of the ways LifeLine supports colleagues include:
- Emergency support – voucher to buy essential household essentials and groceries
- Crisis grants – in exceptional circumstances for a short period to help with priority bills including rent, mortgage, council tax and utility bills
- Energy vouchers – (pre-payment meters) for heating, lighting and cooking
- Debt, benefit, budgeting and housing advice – through Citizen Advice Manchester. Important financial advice, helping beneficiaries manage their bills
- Counselling and wellbeing support – through The Centre for Crisis Psychology
- Essential household appliances – fridges, cookers, washing machines etc.
- Funerals – essential costs where no state help is available
- Essentials for children – school uniform, shoes, IT equipment etc.
