Audley Travel executive board members volunteered at a London charity as part of the firm’s ESG (environmental, social, and governance) commitments.

The tailor-made operator gives every employee a full day’s paid leave per year to volunteer in the community, with the aim of getting 40% of its staff, across all offices, to spend time giving up their time for free.

As part of this initiative, seven of the firm’s board members joined a team who volunteered at food poverty charity The Felix Project, at its Acton distribution centre on May 6.

Sonal Patel, group sustainability director for Audley Travel, said: “We regularly receive feedback that volunteering is a priority for our employees, so it was really important for the board to do our bit and use our volunteering day to work together for a good cause.

“The Felix Project is doing some really valuable work – I really like the thought that has gone into their offering.”

The Felix Project was set up in 2016 and collects fresh, nutritious food that cannot be sold and prepares and delivers meals to Londoners facing food poverty.

The surplus comes from supermarkets as well as wholesalers and producers further up the supply chain and the meals prepared are delivered to charities and local schools in the capital.

Patel added: “Going beyond a traditional foodbank to cook and deliver meals ensures that recipients get a balanced, healthy meal without having to worry about whether they have or can get necessary additional ingredients.”

“The board spent a very worthwhile day helping the wonderful employees and volunteers at the Felix Project to label, pack and load 2,741 meals including soups, goulash and chilli.

“Our tasks also included unloading pallets of dim sum, unloading and sorting fresh and packaged vegetables and cleaning the kitchen area.”

Audley Travel said 27% of its staff donated at least half a working day to volunteering in 2021, adding the business is “committed” to exceeding the 40%target this year despite the challenges from Covid.