ALL ABOUT YOU — READERS’ LIVES
THIS WEEK
Karen Simmonds managing director
Travel Matters, southwest London Travel Matters MD prepares to Freeze for Trees
When it comes to fundraising for worthy causes, travel agency owner Karen Simmonds has probably done more than her fair share. But her latest venture, to jump into the freezing cold water of Brockwell Lido, south London, in the middle of December, will be one of her most daring events for charity to date. The Freeze for Trees event is to raise money for the charity Trees for Cities, one of the agency’s partners, which works on tree-planting projects in urban areas worldwide from Peru to Bolivia. It follows one of her staff, Silvia McBride, joining a 10K run in aid of Tourism Concern. “It’s my turn to do something radical,” says Karen, who will be wearing just a swimming costume to jump into the unheated lido. Karen has set up a JustGiving page and hopes to canvass support from customers and the trade for the event.
It will not come as a surprise to those who know Karen. Six years ago she started an ongoing campaign, Make Travel Matter, to raise awareness of the positive impact of their holidays. “We are all stewards on the planet and we have a duty to look after each other. An
agent on the frontline can help people make informed holiday choices.” This might mean suggesting clients consider holidays that include visiting local
restaurants and communities, rather than all-inclusives, which can involve only eating within a resort. Already the agency works with a number of partners including Tourism Concern, The
Travel Foundation and Lata Foundation to spread the word about worthy causes. “We go to schools to give talks and put messages in our communications with clients.
We work with a business that specialises in pre-school entertainment and they have designed a booklet for our customers with young children with travel tips in it.” But for the next 10 days Karen will be focused on swimming in freezing cold water in
Karen’s CV
●1998 to date: managing director, Travel Matters, Wandsworth
●1995-1998: founder, Natural Heights, London and west Algarve
●1992-1995: area manager, Beach Villas, west Algarve
the middle of winter. “I’m not a scientist but to me the gesture of planting trees is better than calculating your carbon footprint – and it’s an easy message to get across.”
Support Karen by going to justgiving. com/Karen- Simmonds2
Make Travel Matter helps local communities
Would you like to be profiled on Readers’ Lives? Tell us why it should be you! Email:
juliet.dennis@
travelweekly.co.uk
38 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 4 December 2014 TIPS TO HELP FUNDRAISE:
✪Find a charity you want to support: Do your research and pick a charity that matches your interests, it could be environmental, social or animal welfare related that links into holidays you sell.
✪Learn more about the charity: Understand how the charity is making a difference to the industry.
✪Train staff: It’s important your employees understand the issues the industry is facing, whether it’s a lack of resources, the need for community-based projects or global charities such as the World Wildlife Fund.
✪Promote awareness: Use your agency staff and your business to educate customers about the issues you are fundraising for.
✪Find ways to raise funds: Whether it’s through charity events or donations linked to bookings.
READERS’ LIVES
Karen Simmonds, left, and Silvia McBride
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