Published on Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Give Them a Break campaign bows out with holidays for key workers

The Give Them A Break (GTAB) campaign to thank key workers across the UK for their work during the Covid crisis has been formally handed over to the Family Holiday Association. The campaign, organised by volunteers from across the travel industry, launched in June 2020 to provide holidays and holiday discounts for Britain's key workers in particular to enjoy well deserved breaks.

Discount offers poured in from well known brands such as Intrepid Travel, Tui, Travel Republic and Teletext Holidays and a public fundraiser raised over £27,000.

The fundraising efforts have made it possible for the Family Holiday Association to provide much needed UK breaks for over 50 low income keyworkers. This has never been more important than over the past year when so many care assistants, delivery drivers and other key workers have been working flat out to keep the country running but often don't earn enough to take any kind of holiday.

Family Holiday Association research shows just how much difference even a short a break can make to families in need; 83% of families who are impacted by mental health issues see an improvement, 62% of families do more together than before they went on the break and school attendance has improved for 85% of families where this was an issue.

Acknowledging the contribution of key workers throughout the pandemic and recognising that many are on very low incomes, the FHA are keen to continue the Give Them A Break campaign,

FHA CEO Kat Lee said ' We are delighted to be able to support key workers through the generous fundraising efforts of the volunteers behind the Give Them A Break campaign. As the travel industry recovers, we look forward to working with them to help those who have given so much, get a little bit back'.

Give Them A Break Founder, Rachel McCaffery, comments, 'The Give Them A Break volunteers and I feel privileged to have been able to support the FHA and provide holidays to families of key workers who made so many sacrifices last year. We are thankful to the travel brands who supported us, especially given the massive impact of the pandemic on the industry. The campaign achieved a lot in terms of galvanising the industry and raising awareness of the need for help'.

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