From arts and wellbeing holiday clubs and book donations to outdoor activity camps and swimming lessons, the Hays Travel Foundation has supported a wide range of charity projects over the past year.

During the last 12 months, the Foundation has pledged £303,000 to support 68 charities across the United Kingdom.

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

Their grant from The Hays Travel Foundation allowed them to facilitate the first ever Big Heart Art and Wellbeing Holiday Programme during October half term, where 25 children aged between five and 11 from Dundee and Tayside enjoyed five full days of creative activities.

Donna Jennings, For the Love of a Child 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.”

Comments from the children included: “I liked making a den out of the parachute to read stories in” and “My favourite thing is being with people and making friends”.

The Children’s Book Project are based in London but used their grant to run popup bookshop events for economically 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 & Inspired’s Water Warrior project.

All the projects have helped to make a real difference to young people’s lives.

Young and Inspired is a grassroots organisation dedicated to empowering young families facing Adverse Childhood Experiences and struggling with poor mental health.

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

Meanwhile, a parent of a participant of Family Gateway’s Fossil Club, said: “This session has helped my son to feel normal and to feel like he belongs.”

The Hays Travel Foundation’s mission is to help people achieve and be the best they can be in their health, sport, the arts and education. To date, it has donated £2,375,711.

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 is always so inspiring working with the charities we support – hearing how the money is spent and the very real impact it has on people’s lives.”

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.”