Past Activity in Responsible Tourism

Here at holidaycottages.co.uk, our aim is for tourism to be a force for good for local communities and the environment. Here are some of the community projects we have previously supported.

South West England projects

Appledore Book Festival

Appledore Book Festival sees some big names in the literary and art world descend upon the coastal village in North Devon each year. The festival runs a Schools Week where young people can attend talks from acclaimed authors and illustrators, which encourages reading and writing. We sponsored this programme, enabling a local school to host some of these workshops.

Dive Project Cornwall

Dive Project Cornwall is more than just a dive camp. It's a unique experience for students to learn the basics of scuba diving and gain an appreciation of the natural marine world. Our sponsorship contributed towards the expenses of five nights of food and camping, which provided a life-changing opportunity to support the mental health and well-being of young people throughout the UK.

M.V. Freedom

M.V. Freedom is a charitable organisation dedicated to providing accessible sea experiences for individuals living with disabilities in Dorset. Their specially designed boat allows wheelchair users to enjoy therapeutic and empowering outings on the water. This access to the sea is incredibly important for people living with disability. We have contributed by funding the life jacket appeal.

The HealthBus Trust

The HealthBus Trust, based in Dorset, provides specialist GP and medical services to people experiencing homelessness. For individuals without a permanent address, accessing healthcare can be challenging but the HealthBus is making it easier. We are providing funding towards a small response vehicle to help the outreach team deliver essential specialist care.

Visit Looe Lantern Workshop

The lantern workshop takes place in the village of Looe in Cornwall every November for children who want to make their own lanterns to use at the annual Lantern Parade ahead of the town's Christmas lights switch-on. Our sponsorship of the workshop provided funding for materials, room hire and a teacher to make this community event as special as it can be.

South East England projects


The Garden Gate Project

The Garden Gate Project in Kent is a community garden focused on the well-being and cohesion of people in the surrounding area. The project enables people to improve their quality of life, social interaction, and physical and mental health in a supportive community environment. Our sponsorship has covered the cost of a new, secure storage facility on-site for all the required gardening tools.


The Windmill Community Garden

The Windmill Community Garden Margate is a community space dedicated to promoting sustainable living, environmental education, and community cohesion. We provided funding for accessible raised flower beds, making gardening more inclusive, particularly for individuals with back conditions who may find traditional gardening challenging. We also supplied the garden with essential tools and a variety of plants to help it flourish.

The Wave Project

The Wave Project is an organisation dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing through surf therapy. They offer transformative experiences by using the therapeutic benefits of surfing to help individuals overcome challenges such as anxiety and depression. We provided funding for two children to take part in the Surf Therapy Course over six weeks in Brighton. When young people are referred to the Wave project, they are usually quite anxious. Their six-week introduction to surfing helps them to overcome their worries about the water and feel more confident about taking on different challenges.


Arundel Festival

The annual Arundel Festival of the Arts summer festival celebrates the full range of the arts and music in the historic town. This family-friendly event, entirely run by volunteers, brings together residents, community groups, local businesses, and attractions to stage uplifting events for the whole community to enjoy. We supported the Out of the Deep Blue event, a large-scale outdoor performance featuring a 13-foot sea giant puppet and a contemporary dancer, inspired by the themes of the climate emergency and the biodiversity crisis we see in the UK and beyond.


Footprint Trust

The Footprint Trust is an energy charity working to reduce the Isle of Wight's carbon footprint. Based in Newport, Isle of Wight, they provide island-wide support, help, and guidance for sustainable living. They help people reduce their home energy usage and save money on bills. We covered the costs of The Footprint Trust's 'Winter is Coming' event. The aim of the event was to bring together a range of charities and organisations to help islanders prepare for winter. Attendees benefited from hearing about all of the support available including how to keep warm at home, benefits guidance, CV help, family support, and veteran’s help.

East of England projects


YESU Sheringham

YESU Sheringham’s primary focus is being a parent support centre with a community fridge, book and toy exchange, play sessions, and a variety of groups running to help parents with budgeting and managing children’s behaviour. Our funding has enabled YESU Sheringham to purchase beach equipment to be used in the summer holidays: swimwear, beach shoes, sun cream, ice cream and bottled water.


Britten Pears Arts

Britten Pears Arts is a charity which uses music to bring communities together to help tackle feelings of isolation and loneliness, and help those living with long-term conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease. We sponsored 4 months of Participate workshop sessions where participants took part in music-focused activities and connected with one another over tea and cake.

Southwold Street Festival

Southwold Street Festival, the finale of the Southwold Arts Festival, brings the community together in a day of celebration with live music, drama, poetry, visual art, photography, dance, talks and literature. This 8-day festival appeals to all ages and tastes, and helps combat social isolation within the community. Our sponsorship enabled the festival to take place in 2024, after a 2-year hiatus.

Bury St Edmunds RUFC

Bury St Edmunds RUFC in Suffolk prides itself on its involvement with the local community and does everything it can to make rugby more accessible. We partnered with them to fund 20 spaces at their week-long half-term training camp. This gave children the opportunity to try something new over half term and have healthy, homecooked meals at a semi-professional club steeped in history.

Wales projects

Neptune’s Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC)

NARC is a volunteer-driven group dedicated to improving the marine environment along the Pembrokeshire coast. With our support, NARC has been able to more effectively conduct their underwater cleanup operations. By collecting marine litter including hooks, fishing lines, crab pots, phones and shopping carts, NARC ensures a positive impact on marine wildlife.

Saundersfoot Sailing Club

Saundersfoot Sailing Club has joined forces with Saundersfoot Primary School, which is striving to become the first beach school in Wales. The partnership offered safe and educational sailing experiences to local children by providing six training sessions spanning three weeks. Our sponsorship funds were directed towards acquiring a rescue boat.

Arts Connection – Cyswllt Celf

Arts Connection – Cyswllt Celf is an independent arts charity based in Mid Wales, that provides artistic engagement and community enrichment, working in all art forms with all ages and abilities. They work with schools, county councils, and individuals, using a wide range of art forms, settings and themes. We supported the Welshpool Murals project, funding initiatives to engage approximately 60-100 high school students in designing and painting murals throughout the town.

Trash Free Trails

Trash Free Trails is a community dedicated to preserving natural environments by removing single-use pollution from trails and wild places. We are supporting their Trash Mob Academy in North Wales, a youth engagement project aimed at empowering young people through outdoor activities like mountain biking and trail cleaning. Funding this 6-week programme enables students to learn riding skills, develop environmental attitudes, connect with nature, and improve self-esteem.

The Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team

The Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team (Tim Achub Mynydd Aberglaslyn) is dedicated to offering a comprehensive search and rescue service, not only in the mountains but across North West Wales, including urban and rural areas. To ensure their invaluable assistance continues, we have provided funding towards new digital radios which will vastly enhance their communication range and allow them to effectively collaborate with other emergency services.

Heart of England projects

Miles Without Stiles

The Peak District, spanning 555 square miles in the heart of England, was Britain's first national park. The Peak District National Park Foundation, a registered charity, was established to raise funds to preserve the park and promote inclusivity. We are proud to provide funding for the maintenance of the Peak District National Park Foundation’s Miles without Stiles programme. These are accessible routes for people with limited mobility, including wheelchair users, families with pushchairs, and the visually impaired. These special routes are designed to be free of stiles, steps or steep gradients, meaning more people with disabilities can access the spectacular natural landscapes of the Peak District. Some of the routes also include a sensory trail, inviting people of all abilities, including those with additional needs and the neurodiverse, to connect with nature. Our funding allows The Peak District National Park Foundation to carry out essential repair work and keep the paths accessible.

North of England projects

Lake District Foundation

The Lake District Foundation raises funds for social and environmental projects across the national park. We sponsored two bridges near Lake Windermere which required repair due to weathering and frequent use. Our sponsorship ensures that locals and visitors can continue to enjoy the many foot and cycle paths in the national park.

Cumbria Tourism

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Cumbria Tourism, a charitable fund to help kickstart careers in tourism and hospitality has been set up with the help of the Cumbria Community Foundation. We were a sponsor of the initiative, sponsoring the 50th-anniversary pin badges, which will be sold on a donation basis. We have also donated directly to the fund.

Keswick Area Foodshare

Keswick Area Foodshare was set up in April 2023 to help families and locals who are struggling to afford food due to the cost-of-living crisis. Unlike a foodbank, those who need to use the facility do not need to be referred. They rely heavily on donations of funds, food, clothing and toiletries to operate. Our sponsorship has funded approximately 200 of their food parcels.

Flash Company Arts

Flash Company Arts based in Whitby runs activities for children, families and adults as well as a pay-what-you-can cafe and a food pantry. They focus on mental health and well-being, working with people who feel lonely and isolated. We sponsored 3 months of their Upbeat Sessions, where children can do things like art, singing, and playing music. They also receive a cooked meal.

Northumberland Log Bank

The Northumberland Log Bank aims to prevent or relieve poverty in rural Northumberland by providing seasoned wood fuel to those suffering financial hardship, chronic ill-health, disability or isolation. We have provided funding for insurance costs and equipment for cutting up wood, which has been kindly donated by estates across the Northumberland region.

Ireland projects


Foodshare Kerry

Foodshare Kerry operates as the largest food bank in Kerry, bridging the gap between food waste and food poverty. It receives food from the European Social Fund+, along with surplus food from local businesses and suppliers that would otherwise be wasted. This food is graded, repackaged, and delivered to a network of community partners across County Kerry, including homeless services, family resource centres, and social services, who redistribute it to people experiencing food poverty. Our funding covers six months of fuel costs for Foodshare Kerry, ensuring their vehicles can transport surplus food across County Kerry. This support helps them reach vulnerable communities, sustain their partner network, and prevent food waste daily.


Green Sod Ireland

Green Sod Ireland protects and conserves Irish land and biodiversity for present and future generations. By working with local communities, they raise awareness of the health, educational, social, economic, and environmental benefits of caring for the land and its ecosystems. Green Sod Ireland hosts a 'Bee Aware' program in the West Cork area. The workshop raises awareness of the importance of bees within the agriculture and food sector, improving the students' understanding of the world from which our food comes. Our funding allows these workshops to run and would facilitate up to 180 children in the local area. We have also provided funds for materials to improve signage and provide signage in Irish.

Scotland projects

Trees For Life

Trees For Life revitalises wild forests in the Scottish Highlands, providing space for wildlife to flourish and communities to thrive. We supported their Rewild and Recover project, where they work with other charities which allow people experiencing significant challenges in their lives to attend a week-long camp where they can participate in a range of activities including tree planting, walks, meditation and tracking.