Travel Counsellors Celebrates Reaching £400,000 in Support of Reuben’s Retreat

Christmas is all about giving – and our community of Travel Counsellors are certainly a generous bunch! We’re delighted to announce that we’ve now raised over £400,000 in support of Reuben’s Retreat – our dedicated charity partner.

This milestone reflects a shared commitment to making a meaningful difference to the lives of others and is the result of a long-standing relationship which has grown into a deeply rooted connection between our community and Reuben’s Retreat – united by a shared dedication to the charity’s mission.

The £400,000 milestone is the culmination of inspiring fundraising efforts, with Travel Counsellors coming together in some remarkable (and unique!) ways to support the cause. From walking the 23 miles between Reuben’s Retreat and the Travel Counsellors support office in Manchester, to taking on the Inca Trail, Everest Base Camp, and much more, the spirit of collaboration and compassion has really shone through.

A significant portion of the donations, £123,000 (with the number 23 holding special meaning for the charity), has gone to the charity’s latest project “Blossom”. This project is a glazed annex designed to provide families with a peaceful and tranquil space. The space will enable them to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of the countryside while finding much-needed respite.

Steve Byrne, our Chief executive, said: "Reuben’s Retreat carries out life-changing work and it’s a privilege for our community to play a small part in their journey. This achievement is a testament to the power of our community coming together to help children and families through some of their toughest times. We’re proud to support Nic and her Reuben’s Retreat team in making a difference to those who need it most.”

Reuben’s Retreat, located in Glossop, Derbyshire, was formed in 2012 as a sanctuary for families with complexly poorly children and as a space to support families after the loss of a child. Nicola Graham, who is one of the founders of Reuben’s Retreat, named the charity after her son, who passed away aged 23 months within days of being diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2012.

Nicola said: "We are incredibly grateful to each and every kind individual within the Travel Counsellors community for sharing their compassionate hearts and fundraising many pennies for us over the years. I recently had the privilege of taking to the stage at Travel Counsellors’ Conference to share updates on our work and the plans we have for the future. A heartfelt thank you to the amazing Travel Counsellors community for all of their fantastic efforts, so that we can help more families make beautiful memories together”

Reuben’s Retreat is dependent on volunteers and donations. For more details on Reuben’s Retreat visit www.reubensretreat.org.