ABTA Lifeline has launched this year’s Spirit of Christmas appeal to help support industry colleagues most in need this Christmas.

LifeLine is offering 30 families or individuals, who are experiencing hardship, especially during this cost of living crisis, supermarket gift vouchers for a Christmas food shop.  The appeal is open to ABTA Member employees, past and present.

To apply or to nominate a colleague for the Spirit of Christmas please visit: https://www.abtalifeline.org.uk/news-and-events/news/2022/11/15/lifeline-s

Applicants will be required to provide a short paragraph on why they have made the nomination.

With the industry still emerging from the pandemic, and the added pressures of soaring energy prices and rising day-to-day costs, LifeLine has seen a large number of applications for help. This is why the charity is also encouraging businesses and individuals to help Lifeline raise much-needed funds in the run up to Christmas.

Trudie Clements, Director of Lifeline said:

“We are delighted to bring back the Spirit of Christmas initiative to help make Christmas a little easier for those who are really struggling.  It has been a tough couple of years and now with the cost of living crisis affecting so many, we want to help ease mounting pressure and raise spirits by providing Christmas dinners. Christmas is a magical time of the year, and a big part of that is helping those in need.  So, it is vital we all come together to get through these challenging times.

“We’re also encouraging industry colleagues to look at supporting travel professionals through fundraising or donations. Even the smallest amount can make a big difference. We want to be able to help as many people as possible through these difficult times and we need the support of the industry to be able to do that.”

Ways the industry can support Lifeline this Christmas:

• Donate £2 per employee - contact lifeline@abtalifeline.org.uk to pledge your support
• Support LifeLine when buying from Amazon at no extra cost through AmazonSmile smile.amazon.co.uk
• Fundraise or collect donations as part of Christmas celebrations, raffles, Christmas jumper/sparkle dress days
• Make a corporate donation.

About ABTA LifeLine
ABTA LifeLine is ABTA’s charity for past and present employees of ABTA Members. The charity provides support for the unexpected moments in life such as redundancy, relationship breakdown, accidents and bereavement among many other things.
It gives practical, financial and emotional assistance to travel colleagues that are really struggling, throwing them a LifeLine in their time of need. Visit abtalifeline.org.uk

About ABTA
ABTA is a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry. We’re the largest travel trade body, with over 3,900 travel brands in Membership who have a combined pre-pandemic annual UK turnover of £40 billion. We work closely with our Members to help raise and maintain standards and build a more sustainable travel industry, and provide travellers with advice, guidance and support.

Our Members sign up to a code of conduct and commit to agreed service standards and fair trading. When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. We’ll help you understand your level of financial protection, and what to do next, in the unlikely event that an ABTA Member goes out of business. So whatever happens, when you book with an ABTA Member, reliable advice comes as standard.  This means that booking with our Members brings peace of mind. Together with our Members, we help you travel with confidence. www.abta.com