Haven is celebrating the first year of its national charity partnership with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) after raising over ?115,000 to help save lives at sea.
Having supported RNLI?s lifesaving work since this partnership launched in March 2018, fundraising activity has taken place across the holiday provider's network of 36 parks.
Haven teams, holiday home owners and holidaymakers have thrown themselves into events and challenges for the RNLI?s flagship fundraising campaign Mayday and seafood-themed Fish Supper event. They include dance contests, a yellow welly relay between parks, family festivals, donkey rides, football tournaments, open water swimming, leg-waxing and ?gungeing?.
The partners have had the opportunity to share the RNLI?s water safety advice with guests at Haven holiday parks. More than 3,000 children took part in the institution's Coastal Explorer, a co-created family activity led by its park rangers that helps kids enjoy the coast while learning how to stay safe beside the seaside.
The partnership has also seen the institution gain new supporters, with 83 people signing up at one park in Devon alone. Looking ahead to 2019, they are planning to develop their relationship to promote water safety through fun events on and around their parks.
Jayne Clarke, head of marketing and media at the RNLI, said: "It has been a delight to partner with Haven. The energy, enthusiasm and selflessness of their teams have been fantastic. We?d like to say a very big ?thank you? to all at Haven. We are looking forward to developing our partnership in 2019 to help more families enjoy safe, happy holidays."
Jane Bentall, managing director at Haven, said: "We are so proud of our partnership with the RNLI and what a fantastic year it has been. In 2018, Haven welcomed 2.9 million guests to the coast, so it is so important that we have the opportunity to share vital water safety advice with them. We look forward to at sea."
Families wanting to join in the fundraising fun can stay at a Haven park of their choice from just ?112 for the whole family. This price is based on a family of up to four sharing a Standard two-bedroom Caravan on a three night break at selected parks, departing on March 15, 2019.
