Select World Travel to launch charitable foundation

Poole-based agency Select World Travel has unveiled plans to introduce its own charitable foundation. 

Select World Travel Foundation will launch on February 22, with the goal of supporting local charities through a range of fundraising activities. The foundation will support causes that benefit families across Dorset, Surrey and Yorkshire, where the agency has ties.

Foundation fundraising manager Leanne Giddings told Aspire: “Select World Travel as a business has been very much involved in lots of charity fundraising since 2015, and now it’s got to a stage where things are ramping up.

“The network of clients we have here and the history of our fundraising success has put us in good stead for launching our own foundation, raising even more money and expanding our reach to even more charities.”

For its inaugural year, Select World Travel Foundation will partner with three charities – MyTime Young Carers, Hope For Food and Martin House Children’s Hospice – and raise money for them at the agency’s annual Luxury Travel Showcases, held twice a year in the north and south of England. 

The team also has plans to host other fundraising events, including family parties and Christmas activity days. 

The first annual fundraising target is £30,000.

As well as raising money for local charities, the foundation plans to offer a grant-giving scheme.

Giddings said: “The goal is to hopefully build enough funds into our foundation pot so we can help other local charities that might need something crucial funded, like a piece of medical equipment or improvements and refurbishments. 

“We want to be able to offer funding to pay for something tangible so we can really see the impact and the difference the funds are making.” 

The agency’s owner and managing director, Hannah Vincent, added: “Leanne and I have been friends for years and, before becoming our fundraising manager, she worked in the charity sector for more than 12 years and as a Select World Travel ambassador.

“We are really proud and excited for this next chapter.”

Vincent will take up the role of chair of trustees, working alongside Giddings and three additional trustees.

Giddings and Vincent said the “ultimate goal” was to be recognised as a business that has “a passion for giving back to the community”.