All around the country, hospitality workers from across the industry are gearing up for a week-long fundraising festival (17-23 May), all in aid of Hospitality Action (HA), the charity that takes care of hospitality workers and their families in times of need.
This year the charity is campaigning to get every hospitality worker to raise a minimum of £5, but it doesn’t have to be limited to this. HA Week is a great opportunity to bring everyone together and have fun so why not make it a team effort and raise even more?
Industry supplier Bunzl Catering and Hospitality will be hosting a number of activities internally. Chris Wakeman, Managing Director of Bunzl Lockhart Catering Equipment comments: “This provides an opportunity to fundraise for a good cause and have some fun at the same time.Throughout the week we’ll be running games, competitions and prize draws, dress down days, a supplier-sponsored lunch, and of course the best dressed superhero competition! Most activities will need to be ‘bought’ for a moderate sum with all funds being donated to HA.”
Stephen Travis, of Aramark, says the catering company is keeping its plans top secret, with activities centred around the naval base in Portsmouth. Stephen said: “We had great fun working with Hospitality Action last year and we are looking forward to continuing our relationship with them this year.”
Other companies are running with a food theme. Charnwood Training, for example, will be donating the proceeds from the take up a special dessert menu in its on-site restaurant; students at the University of Derby have organised a three course meal fundraising event, cake sale and raffle, while City of Bristol college students are baking and selling Jamie Oliver cookies.
Speaking from Bromley College, Clare Gale said: “We participated in last year’s HA Week by making cakes and selling them around the college offices. It was received so well that this year we are doing the same, but baking double! ““The students really empathise with the work Hospitality Action does, as it feels relevant to them.” This was particularly true after a visit from Chris Mordue from the Ark Foundation, part of Hospitality Action. Chris is someone the students can relate to. Hearing him speak so candidly about his experiences with drugs and alcohol really opened their eyes about the difficulties people can face. It encouraged the students to get involved in raising funds and it was reassuring for them to realise that support is available should they ever need it.”
One easy way to help raise money is to enter the HA Big Prize Draw. There is still time to get your tickets and you could end up winning an amazing trip to New York. Click here to buy tickets http://www.hospitalityaction.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=127&Itemid=52
Don’t forget to capture your fundraising efforts on camera – Hospitality Action are giving away four free tickets to the exclusive HA Ball for the best photograph.
For more information about Hospitality Action week or to register your event go to the website – www.hospitalityaction.org.uk.
Visit www.hospitalityaction.org.uk for more information about the charity or contact Giuliana Vittiglio on 020 3004 5504 or at gvittiglio@hospitalityaction.org.uk.
Hospitality Action is the trade charity for the hospitality industry. Registered Charity number: 1101083.
In 2009 Hospitality Action spent £376,546 supporting 1,505 people. 78% of those helped were below the age of 60 with 42% of the charities beneficiaries needing assistance after a life changing illness.
In 2009 the charity reached approximately 10,000 students in 225 colleges and universities via the Ark Foundation which educates hospitality students, employees and management to the dangers of drug and alcohol dependency.