ABTA LifeLine and Travel Weekly have teamed up to launch a new charity appeal to support those in the travel industry whose lives have been adversely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.
The TravelCares campaign will raise essential funds to allow Abta LifeLine to help those who have lost their jobs or are facing other hardships as a result of the pandemic.
£50 will give a family an essential food shop, £50 will pay for a colleague to go through our redeployment scheme (to help until travel fully recovers and opportunities open up again), £100 will give someone the expert debt, benefit and housing advice they may need and £300 will provide vital mental health support.
But LifeLine does so much more. From crisis grants, to helping with priority bills (rent, utilities), providing essential household appliances to buying school uniform, we tailor our support to meet the needs of the individual or family.
Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly, said: “The impact of the Covid-19 crisis has been truly devastating for our industry, and it is clear that without more support from government, many more lives will be affected.
“Travel Weekly has been a long-standing supporter of Abta LifeLine’s work, and we are calling on all our readers to support the TravelCares campaign and do what we can to help those industry friends and colleagues whose lives and livelihoods have been worst-affected.”
Trudie Clements, director of Abta LifeLine, said: “We are delighted to have teamed up with Travel Weekly to bring you our TravelCares appeal. It has never been more important for our industry to come together and support travel colleagues struggling because of Covid-19.”
She added: “Many valued colleagues have already lost their jobs. And we know it will be tough for many more over the weeks and months to come. We would like to encourage all those that can to get behind our appeal to help raise the vital funds we need to provide the support our people need right now. Let’s show them that TravelCares.”
Alistair Rowland, Abta chairman and an Abta LifeLine trustee, said: “Travel is one large family, and right now we need to go beyond being competitors and support each other. Great people are losing their jobs, and those who haven’t need to help. Any size of donation is fine – let’s just support each other and get to the other side together.”
You can support ABTA LifeLine's and Travel Weekly's TravelCares appeal here.