Hays Travel teams from across Northern Ireland have been fundraising for a leading autism charity.
Travel agents at its 24 branches in Northern Ireland have donated over £18,000 to chosen charity partner, Autism NI.
Each Hays Travel branch is provided with a £500 budget to use for fundraising and charity work in their local area; £200 of this is to be used to fundraise for charities which support young people’s mental health, and the other £300 can be used for charities chosen by the branch.
This year Hays Travel agent teams in Northern Ireland chose to join forces and all fundraise for Autism NI.
They held activities from cake sales to abseiling to raise a total of £9,594.55.
Much of this was then match funded by the Hays Travel Foundation, resulting in a total donation of £18,666.67.
Nicola Allison, Hays Travel regional sales manager, said: “I’m so proud of our amazing teams across Northern Ireland who have rallied together and worked so hard to raise as much money as possible.”
The fundraising activities included the team at Hays Travel Coleraine making over £1,000 at a pub quiz, while foreign exchange sales consultant from Belfast Park Centre, Noeleen McKay, abseiled down Belfast Castle.
Hays Travel staff have also completed training with Autism NI so that every branch has a dedicated member of the team to support autistic travellers.
Sorcha Mathews, corporate fundraising manager at Autism NI, said: “Autism NI is delighted to have partnered with the incredible team at Hays Travel. This fundraising donation will continue to support the ongoing and evolving needs of 35,000 autistic people.”
In the last year, Hays Travel’s Local Community Partnership initiative across its retail network has donated over £142,642 to local charities.
