Charity Support
We seek to collect a £2 per booking ‘charitable donation’ on all holidays. The scheme was launched in May 2011 and aims to raise in excess of £300,000. The funds raised will be split between the Travel Foundation and Mencap and Enable Scotland.
The Travel Foundation is a UK charity that supports communities in holiday destinations worldwide, by investing in sustainable tourism initiatives. As a major supporter of the Travel Foundation, 30% of the funds we raise on their behalf can be used to fund bespoke projects. Outlined below are the projects that we’re supporting:
Agricultural Livelihoods and Tourism project in Fethiye, Turkey (supported also by Thomas Cook and Tui)
This project has been developed to help farmers in the Fethiye area of Turkey increase their income by supplying produce to hotels. It aims to:
- Help hotels in the Fethiye region of Turkey demonstrate, and increase, the local content of fresh fruit, vegetables, local dairy and meat products
- Assist local small-scale producers with planning and co-ordination of production and marketing
- Establish what works best and replicate the project in other areas to spread the benefit to other farmers
Development of honey production for the Mush Meya community in Mexico
This project aims to increase Melipona bee populations and honey yield so that the local community can make an income selling honey products through tourism. The Melipona honey is particularly known for its incredible healing properties especially for burns to the skin, sun marks, as an anti ageing product and for its medicinal properties. Funds have helped re-vegetate the area and train local people so that the bee population can thrive – this means honey can now be harvested three times a year. We are now moving on to investigate markets for the sale of Melipona honey and value added products.
Development of honey production for the Good Hope community in Jamaica
This project is helping to give new skills to unemployed young people in the Dallas Castle area, who would otherwise have little opportunity to develop livelihoods for themselves.
During 2011 The Co-operative Travel and the Travel Foundation are continuing to support a bee keeping project by providing funding for start-up equipment as well as basic technical, business, marketing and life skills training. In addition, we are helping beekeepers and the local tourism industry to build strong relationships so that opportunities to sell honey can be explored. The long term aim of the project is for the group to establish themselves as full time beekeepers providing honey to local hotels.
Project to reduce water consumption in up to 20 hotels in Cyprus through the implementation of best practice measures relating to gardening
Water is in short supply in Cyprus and a contributing factor is large hotels using water inefficiently to water large garden areas. The project is educating hotels on best practice in water conservation – to reduce the cost of their water bills and to help minimise the environmental impacts, whilst keeping the gardens green.
As part of its commitment to Inspiring Young People, The Co-operative is embarking on a year of fun-filled fundraising to support Mencap and its sister charity, ENABLE Scotland to inspire 20,000 young people with a learning disability to change their world. The money raised will allow Mencap and ENABLE Scotland to launch an innovative project at 20 locations across the UK.Inspire Me will provide activities and training, including meaningful volunteering and employment opportunities, to give young people with a learning disability the chance to build their confidence and life skills.
As well as the monies raised from the ‘charitable donation’ The Co-operative Travel aim to raise a further £175,000. So far The Co-operative has raised £3million for Mencap.