Posted on Friday 26 April

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Hays Travel Foundation grants £3,150 to support 30 weeks of activities for young carers

Hartlepool United Community Sports Foundation is a registered charity working to offer inclusive activities for the people of Hartlepool. Their main objective is to provide as many children, adults and disabled people with opportunities to enjoy and develop themselves in a friendly environment.

At our recent meeting the Hays Travel Foundation Trustees granted £3,150 to support 30 weeks of activities for young carers. This will offer them an opportunity to interact with their peers and offer respite away from their responsibilities.

Mandy Sousa, Hays Travel Foundation representative, recently met with members of Hartlepool United Community Sports Foundation and with the young carers that will benefit from the funding. This is what she had to say: “It is a great pleasure working with Hartlepool United Community Sports Foundation, enabling young carers some time away to relax and have some fun in a friendly environment. This visit also allowed them to express their desires and they came up with some fantastic ideas, meaning the funds will be used to organise the events they want!”

We look forward to hearing all about the activities soon!

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Posted on Friday 12 April

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Beloved baby hospice received grant from the Hays Travel Foundation

Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice in Middlesbrough is a registered Charity providing palliative, respite and end of life care to babies and infants aged from birth to five years who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. Currently catering for more than 30 babies and young children, the hospice is the only one of its kind in the area.

At our most recent meeting, the trustees granted £5,000 to help support the pre and post bereavement counselling services. Recently, Jane Schumm, Retail & Training Director, along with Mandy Sousa, Hays Travel Foundation representative and Kelly Coley, Middlesbrough Branch Manager, visited the hospice to see the amazing work they are doing and present Zoe’s Place with the cheque.

Jane said this about the visit: “I felt honoured and privileged to attend Zoë’s Place to hand over the Hays Foundation cheque for £5,000. I live local to Zoe’s place and I often see in local news the great work that they do but to see this first hand was great. We had a lovely tour of all the areas of the highlight was meeting the Nursing staff and the children that were in their care. To run the amazing place they do with only charity money and very little funding is just incredible and I was delighted that The Hays Foundation were able to help and donate. Without these donations Zoe’s place is considering having to close their doors a few days a week which would have a huge impact on the children and families of Teesside that really do need this support.”

We are delighted to have been able to help and wish Zoe’s Place all the best in their fundraising efforts!

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Posted on Wednesday Apr 03

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Pathways4all works to provide safe and accessible play facilities and a range of recreational activities for children and young people with disabilities or additional needs to enable them to develop in a fun and supportive environment.

Throughout the year our Whitley Bay team has organised various fundraising activities to support the charity and at our recent meeting our trustees have also agreed to grant £8,780 to help with the running costs of their Distinctive Youth Group.

This project will see young people with disabilities benefit from 3 hours of activities including sports, games, it/media, arts and crafts, music and sensory play. During these sessions, they will have the opportunity to develop towards independence or supported adulthood, building confidence and self-esteem through positive activities.

Victoria Williamson, the Centre Coordinator had this to say: "We are so grateful to Hays Travel Foundation and Hays Travel Whitley Bay who have been supporting our organisation this year. Our Distinctive Youth Project is such a valuable time for 12 -19 year olds who have additional needs and disabilities that prevent them accessing other leisure and youth programmes. For many it is their only chance in the week to see their friends and engage in fun activities. The grant Hays Travel Foundation has provided for this session is giving meaning, reducing isolation and bringing happiness to almost 50 young people's lives" Vicky, Centre Manager.

It was great to also hear the positive impact the group is having on young people such as Paul: "I love coming to Distinctive every week and being with my friends and playing Uno. At the Tim Lamb Centre I can play on the Xbox and if I'm being silly there are people who make sure I don't get in trouble, and if I'm having a problem with my friends like falling out, they help us sort things out. If I didn't have the Friday Club (Distinctive) I'd be bored at home and I wouldn't get to make good friends."

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