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Restorative power of tourism?

15/6/2017

28 Comments

 
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There's been so much shocking news recently - from Manchester and London in particular.

We're all reeling with the scale and unpredictability of the bombs, stabbing and Grenfell tower fire.

I'm so aware that as I watch the news, surrounded by soothing lush greenery in the Yorkshire Dales, many others are dealing with horrific challenges. It feels like we're a world away from the reality of the news. But that world away feeling could help in some way. 

What can we do?

Apart from donating to the various funds, is there anything we could do that's practical, than could actually make a difference?

I think there might be and would like to ask for your help too. 

We've seen the pictures and reports of people from the emergency services working around the clock, even when exhausted to save lives and comfort. We know it's their job, but it seems that they're going beyond the line of duty. Funds have been set up for victims of all these horrific incidents but what about the emergency services? I'm struck by the exhaustion on the faces of the crew dealing with the Grenfell tower fire. They had a horrific day yesterday. The next days could be even worse as they deal with the aftermath and discover those who didn't make it out of the building. And they just have to keep doing their job. How much help do they get to deal with the trauma of their experiences? The government hasn't always made those working in the emergency services feel valued. The public want to. 

I think this might be where the tourism industry could help, in a direct and practical way. Could we offer some free (or if you can't manage that, very discounted - 75% off) short breaks in beautiful, restful locations for members of the emergency services who've been involved in these recent disasters? I imagine it would be in Autumn so arrangements can be made.

It's only a small gesture but I know that when the world seems like a scary place and the news is dark, many of us feel better after spending time outdoors surrounded by beauty. It would be good to able to share the peace, tranquility and restorative powers of our wonderful places with those who really need them. 

I've already got a list of some Yorkshire businesses who'd like to help. Could you?

I've been in touch with the Firefighters Charity who said: We are currently co-ordinating a plan to offer support to the members of the fire community following the terrible fire at Grenfell. This is a fantastic offer and could definitely be of benefit to those involved, as we would be able to use it alongside our own recuperation services. Thank you so much for your support. 

If you'd like to help, please email me, explaining what you can offer, when and if you can offer it free of charge.  I'm not sure how long it will take for me to get back to you but I will when I know more. Please be generous!

Update: Thank you! I've received lots of great offers of help by email and free accommodation - thank you so much. I'll be in touch again soon. Please spread the word and keep being generous. 

Updated update (Sunday 18th June): the response to this has been absolutely incredible - I now have over 120 offers of accommodation for emergency service personnel. It's obviously going to take time to get back to everyone so I don't think I'm going to update this page with all the latest offers. I'd just like to say a huge thank you for everyone who has been so generously involved. I'll post an update about how the places will be allocated soon. Thank you. 

These are just some of the offers we've received so far. There are plenty more that I still need to follow up and add. Thank you for your generosity: 


Thanks so much for taking the initiative. We would be delighted to offer 2 short breaks - a 3 night weekend or a 4 night midweek, free of charge. Our cottages sleep 2 or 4 and won best in Yorkshire last year and one cottage is also the best in England this year, so quite appropriate for the best heroes in England. We'd be honoured to welcome them. Looking forward to hearing more.​

Regards, Diane Howarth
Cottage in the Dales

Bunkhouse sleeps 30 free accommodation for a couple of nights mid week. We can also offer Caving or ghyll scrambling free for up to 20 people. We do a similar package for help for heroes as part of their recuperation so I think it might be good for the emergency services. 
Debbie Bryant
Old School Bunkhouse, Yorkshire Dales

We have a 2 bedroom, sleeps 4 bungalow in Dumfriesshire, south west Scotland. I would happily offer up to a one week stay free of charge – Also own farm nearby so farm visits available.
Caroline McMillan 
Viewforth Cottage
 
I own a holiday cottage, the GateHouse, in Dover. It's a mini castle with turret, crenellations etc and would love to offer a 3 night weekend break (Friday to Monday) or a 4 night mid week break (Monday to Friday). The GateHouse sleeps 4, has one bedroom plus a fully sprung sofa bed in the living room. 2 dogs are welcome.
Michelle Harrison.
 
Short break for a group of 8 (10 with two camp beds- suitable for kids) they can bring their dogs too!
Angela
North Norfolk Holiday Cottages
 
 A completely free holiday for a family of up to 4. Accommodation will be in either 2 twin rooms, or a twin and a double, or we could do a combo with singles if the children were older. It will be in our rooms with shared bathroom facilities. 
Linzi
Scargill Foundation, Yorkshire Dales
 
We are Low Moor Holiday Cottages, Scarborough, North Yorkshire and would be willing to offer a free weekend in a two bedroom cottage which would sleep 4 people plus baby in cot or a child under 10 on a z-bed.
Paula Penny
 
The Bay, Filey on the Yorkshire Coast. We have a 4 bed property which sleeps up to 9 and a 2 bedroom property which sleeps 4. It might be nice for both to be booked out at the same time sleeping 13 in total (across both properties). There's a stunning beach which there's direct access to and it's lovely to wrap up and take walk on the peaceful beach or the on-site Meadow (with lots of nature to appreciate). There's a cosy on-site pub and restaurant and lots of other facilities, including swimming pool, sauna and gym. It might even be worth approaching the beauty room to see if they would offer a free treatment (e.g. Massage). The walk on the beach is very good for the soul and we have had various guests who have been going through a difficult time who have mentioned how their stay had helped. We also have Netflix and provide, wine, chocolate and candles for a relaxing evening.
Suzie Brown
Meadowside Filey
I would like to offer our 3 bed cottage free of charge for a
Suzie Grimwood
Castle Ely Mill
 
We are happy to offer a 50% discount on our rates
Liz
Bank Villa Masham
 
Our Buck Place Cottage Filey Bay sleeps 4 and an infant on The Bay Holiday Village twixt Scarborough and Bridlington on the Yorkshire coast
Su Rees
 
We have 2 double en suite bed and breakfast rooms in Askrigg, a beautiful village in the Yorkshire Dales, www.sykeshouse.co.uk. We would be happy to offer both rooms for 2 nights free of
Alison and Michael Niklewicz
Sykes House
 
Happy to offer a free 3 or 4 night mid-week break for up to 4
Elaine
Broadgate Farm Cottages
5 Star & 4 Star Gold Award Cottages

We would happily offer a 3 or 4 night break The cottage sleeps 4 people in one double and one twin bedroom - dogs welcome too.
Anthony & Joseph Duncalf
Holiday cottage scotland

I will offer some free B&B at Burnside Brace Guesthouse in Stanhope Weardale.
Tracy
P.s I am dog friendly too 
 
I would like to offer some free stays
Floss
The Kettlewell Hostel, Yorkshire Dales

We have a three bed cottage sleeping five plus camp cot and we would be pleased to offer a week or two shorter breaks (3 nights Fri-Mon or 4 nights Mon - Fri) in the autumn after Sept 8 once we have some space. We are really family friendly and have 1.5 acres of garden, where the children can play, parents can relax - we have chickens and they can collect free eggs each day. I would be interested to know how you will identify the personnel and tie them up with suitable accommodation but count us in!
Rowena Kerslake
Green Acre Lodge

28 Comments
Valerie Livingston link
15/6/2017 17:36:57

Our bunkhouse is in Rookhope, Weardale. We can accommodate 15 people ... 13 in the bunkroom (communal) and 2 in the caravan ... which is adjacent to the bunkhouse. At the moment I am experiencing a serious cash-flow problem, In my heart I would say stay free of charge, I really don't want to charge them ANYTHING, but I might have to charge them for a sack of coal and to cover the electricity used ... so maybe looking at £60 for three nights? That's just £20 per night, and I normally charge £24pppn ! By the time Autumn comes I might be in a better place financially and not have to charge them anything. I definitely want to be part of this, they deserve it. I was wondering how we could help, we are too far away to be able to offer accommodation for those poor people who have lost their homes.

Reply
Kit link
15/6/2017 18:04:57

50% discounted stays during Setember 2017 in rural gite accommodating up to 8 people (note that 6 are accommodated in bedrooms and 2 on sofabed, 1 single bathroom plus 1 extra loo downstairs). All I ask is that they bring own bedlinen and towels.
Tour of our alpaca farm included for chill-out factor. If weather no good during September, heating supplementary.

Reply
Tammy Mitchell link
15/6/2017 20:14:16

Hi Susan

We have a 3 bedroom Gite in South West France, all bedrooms ensuite, sleeps 7. Large garden leading down to the river Vienne, great for fishing. There is also a pool. We are fully booked for the summer but have availability Sept 8 until 25 October, we are in a micro climate so weather can be really warm at this time of year, and we would like to offer 3 to 7 nights free of charge to emergency service workers that has been directly involved in the Manchester, London or Grenfell terrors, hopefully it will go some way to giving the some peace and somewhere they can recuperate.

Reply
Paula Carlington link
15/6/2017 20:32:13

Large self catering house, 5 star gold self catering in Stanhope, County Durham. Sleeps up to 16. 2/3 nights mid week. Usual price is around £1500 but would do for £500 to cover staff turn around costs only. Exclusive use of games room, hot tub and gardens too.

Reply
Claire Hall
15/6/2017 20:35:20

We would like to offer our 2 bed holiday cottage in Ceredigion, West Wales for a short break, (fri-mon) out of the main holiday season (happy to work with a family to find a suitable date) It sleeps 4 & we accept dogs.

Would just like our costs covered.

Reply
Liz Burton link
15/6/2017 21:43:29

3 bedroom 6 people cottage on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire and a mile from the beach. Lots of places to walk. Have availability end of October to Xmas. Can offer a week during this time at 50 % discount.

Reply
Su Buck
15/6/2017 22:17:31

Happy to help Susan. We have a cottage on the wonderful Yorkshire Coast. Sleeps a family of 4. I will email you.
Thank you for putting this together

Reply
Penny Thompson link
16/6/2017 07:55:43

Small 1 Bedroomed Bothy in South Shropshire dogs welcome
Happy to offer any 2/3 night stays at for free
I can donate 3 separate stays for 3 separate emergency people & their partner/spouse and dogs

Reply
Suzie Brown link
16/6/2017 08:12:53

Great idea. We have a couple of places on the Yorkshire coast (the same site as Su Buck's) and would like to offer a stay. I'll email you.

Reply
Suzie G link
16/6/2017 08:58:07

Happy to offer May Cottage at Castle Ely Mill, for 1 week, free of charge, from 30th September onwards (excluding half term week 21-28 October). May Cottage has 3 bedrooms and sleeps up to 6 people. They will also have use of our games room and fishing lake.

Reply
Jenny Wood link
16/6/2017 10:31:06

Happy to offer Acorn Cottage, Ingleton (www.IngletonCottages.co.uk), Yorkshire Dales for 1 week, at just 25% of full price (approx £85 in total) in Oct, Nov or Dec (excl Xmas or New Year weeks). Acorn Cottage has 3 bedrooms and sleeps up to 5 people.

My husband will also give you a free pottery throwing lesson (if interested) and tour of his local pottery.

Reply
Angela Archdale link
16/6/2017 10:56:02

I would love to offer Lark Cottage, Titchwell, North Norfolk that sleeps 8 in four bedrooms (maybe a couple of families of service men directly involved) for a short break monday-friday or friday-monday free of charge. We are fully booked until mid September and then have lots of availability after October half term. I think this is a really great idea, thank you!!

Reply
Sheena and David Peach link
16/6/2017 11:13:03

Would love to offer free of charge a weeks stay in our 2 bedroom cottage (sleeps 3 ) or 3 short breaks.
Peaceful, Dog friendly cottage with view over fields in Wensledale with a welcome to look around our farm.

Reply
Michelle Harrison link
16/6/2017 12:31:55

I have emailed you. I own a mini castle, the GateHouse, in the ley of Dover Castle. I would love to offer a 3 or 4 night stay from October to the beginning of March.

Reply
Neil and Jane McNair link
16/6/2017 15:51:48

This is a great idea,well done Susan
We would like to offer a 2 night Dinner Bed &Breakfast stay at Low Mill Guesthouse ,we will be in touch
Hope you get a great response

Reply
Gail Adams link
16/6/2017 17:43:35

Hi Susan
This is a brilliant idea and I am hugely inspired by it
I would like to offer Oak Cottage, in Norfolk (it sleeps up to 10, is in a lovely quiet and peaceful location, has a very secure garden and it's a 10 min drive to smashing beaches). I have one week available - 15th July! I would be delighted and honoured to donate this summer week for free if its of any use at all. Otherwise the next available week I have there is 18th November.

I will email all my owners to see if they would like to donate or discount a short break or week too.
Huge best wishes

Gail

Reply
Tracey Coulson link
16/6/2017 18:06:26

Count me in, happy to help. I offer a free week or short break up to the end of December (am booked half term/Xmas/new year). Dog friendly apartment in Reeth, heart of Swaledale, great centre for walking/cycling.

Reply
Simon & Andrea - No.21 York link
16/6/2017 18:20:07

Count us in, such an amazing idea. We are happy to offer either Twin or Double Rooms for mid-week breaks - Subject to availability on a FOC basis. A quiet B&B in the heart of York offering a great place to get away from it all or make the most of the City & surrounds of North Yorkshire.

Reply
Hideaway Cottage link
16/6/2017 20:41:19

Susan,
We would be delighted to offer Hideaway Cottage near Masham (subject to availability) for either 3,4 or 7 nights. A cottage for couples (although we could accommodate 1 child if necessary) in a very peaceful location.
Brilliant idea....!!

Reply
Caroline Perry link
16/6/2017 21:16:45

I'm happy to offer Bryn Ffynnon in North Wales for a week. Sleeps up to 5

Reply
North York Moors Wildlife Photography Tours link
16/6/2017 21:56:00

Hi Susan..I'm very happy to offer free of charge a full day Wildlife Photography Tour or simply Wildlife Watching Tour if they prefer for one person and guest on the stunning North York Moors. Either as a stand alone package or to tie in with some ones offer of a short break.

Reply
Louise and David Clarke link
17/6/2017 07:10:00

Hi Susan.
Fantastic idea. We would like to offer a free two night bed and breakfast stay at The Old Town Hall.

Reply
Amanda Waters & Chris Crane link
17/6/2017 09:47:51

We would love to offer two x 3 night breaks in September for 2 people at our lovely B&B in Cornwall, 2 miles from coast, midway between The Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan, great location from which to explore all of Cornwall. Double room ensuite including fab breakfasts. Contact for dates.

Reply
tonette link
18/6/2017 08:59:26

We would love to offer a 4 night mid week break or a 3 night weekend break. We are on the Lincolnshire Coast

Reply
Jan and Eric stanley
18/6/2017 19:40:52

We have a small b&b just outside Leyburn. We can offer a double room for two with space for a youngster. We are also happy for guest to bring their dog. We can offer a two or three night stay b&b x

Reply
Gail Adams link
20/6/2017 00:36:47

HI Susan

Ive had a response from one of my owners and she too, would like to offer a week free of charge at lovely Poets Corner in Mundesley, She is really booked up but we do have December and January if that helps at all.
Best wishes again

GAil

Reply
Lynne
27/6/2017 19:43:30

Hi I can offer a one double bedroom annex in Haxby York from 15th July for 2 weeks then 7th October onwards throug to March 2018 with pleasure

Reply
Lynne
27/6/2017 19:47:30

I would love to offer a city break in beautiful historic York for a full week break free of charge anytime from 15th July until 28th July then anytime from October through to end of March 2018

Reply

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