Issue 14 R E:action - Hospitality Action

e:action Family Members
Family Members Scheme
Our Family Members Scheme is a contact
scheme for people who have worked within
the hospitality industry and are now retired. It
is a free scheme and is open to anyone who is
over pension age and has worked within the
hospitality industry in the UK for at least 7 years.
Family Members lunches
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The scheme consists of:
l Informative bi-monthly newsletter
l Birthday and Christmas card and gift
l Befriending visits (where we have volunteers)
l Local Regional lunches (usually around 20
people)
If you know of anyone who would like to become a member, download our application
form from our website or call 020 3004 5507.
Family Members lunches allow us to build a better relationship with our Family
Members, all who have dedicated many years to the industry, and they offer the perfect
afternoon out. The lunches give them an opportunity to meet new friends in their area or
catch up with old friends and the perfect place to reminisce about past times.
Since our last edition of
re:action our Family Members
have been treated to lunches
across the UK. Malmaison
and Hotel du Vin donated
three lunches in Glasgow and
Birmingham with Aberdeen
Tea and photographs at the grounds of Calcot Manor
still to come. The Holiday Inn
in London’s Mayfair held two
amazing lunches and the
Novotel Manchester West
held its annual Christmas
lunch. Premier Inn donated
four Family Member lunches
Family Members relax for a
photograph after an enjoyable lunch
at Malmaison in Glasgow
Christmas festivity and glamour
were combined at the Holiday Inn
in London’s Mayfair
which included Long Reach
in Whitstable, Walston Castle,
in Wales and London Kings
Cross with Bristol planned.
Calcot Manor held their annual
Family Members lunch in its
beautiful conservatory.
New friendships and lots of laughter was
had by all at the Hotel du Vin in Birmingham
Lots of fun and laughter was had at our first
lunch in Wales at Walston Castle
We need your help
Do you enjoy having a chat
and sharing a cup of tea?
So do our Family Members,
but many are lonely or
isolated. We are looking for
caring Volunteer Visitors from
across the UK to join our
valued team.
You need no previous
experience and will receive
training and ongoing support
from head office. If you
have a friendly, sensitive
manner and can provide a
listening ear please contact
Jenny Gill for more details
on 020 3004 5507 or email
jgill@hospitalityaction.org.uk
What’s Required
The minimum commitment is
just 2 visits per year (though
we would be delighted if you
could take on more!) Each
visit lasts about an hour
and can be carried out in
the evening or at weekends
and many of our existing
volunteers fit the visits around
a busy work and home life.
Why Volunteer?
As a volunteer you will not
only be supporting some of
our more isolated industry
retirees but you will also have
a great time.
Volunteer Visitors re:action
Margaret & Stuart Ritchie visit in the Edinburgh area. For them
“visiting the Family Members is a pleasure and we are
always warmly welcomed with a cup of tea, hearing
about their grandchildren, families and holidays. I
feel we get more out of these visits than they do,
always coming away happy and realising how little it
takes to do a good turn. Doing this makes you very
humble as there are a lot of lonely and kindly people
out there just waiting for someone to knock at their
door”.
Volunteers Margaret & Stuart Ritchie
Elizabeth is a Family Member in London. She is visited by
Denise and writes, “I lost my sight 5 years ago. When
Hospitality Action set up the volunteer visitor
scheme I was quick to apply. Very soon I met
Denise and for the past 2 years she has been visiting
me. She is a charming, kind woman and we chat over a
cup of tea. I am most grateful to HA for setting up
this service, which gives me another valuable link to
the hospitality industry.”
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