An Oxfordshire bus company has stepped in to help a charity after trips for young carers were put at risk of being cancelled.
Harwell-based non-profit organisation, Be Free Young Carers, had booked several coaches for summer respite activities with Heyfordian Travel.
But the coach company went bust suddenly last week leaving the charity with no transport for the trips.
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Be Free Young Carers is a grant recipient of The Didcot Powerhouse Fund with Thames Travel being one of the donors.
The Didcot Powerhouse Fund was set up to tackle inequality and deprivation in the area.
Luke Marion, managing director of Thames Travel, Oxford Bus Company, and Pulhams Coaches said: “We tried to speak to as many affected staff and customers as possible to see if we could assist with offers of employment or pick up any journeys at risk of being cancelled.
“It was helpful to hear from our contacts at The Didcot Powerhouse Fund, who we support through Thames Travel, about the situation involving Be Free Young Carers.
“I'm delighted our team at Pulhams Coaches could cover the trips so the young carers could still enjoy their summer outings.
“We honoured the prices previously agreed with Heyfordian to minimise the financial burden for the charity.”
Sabiene North, chief executive of Be Free Young Carers said: "We are incredibly grateful to Thames Travel for their assistance and Pulhams who are providing replacement coaches for our booked trips.
“Recent studies show that more than a quarter of young carers spend over 10 hours every day caring for loved ones in the school holidays.
"Our team are thrilled that we can now provide an exciting and essential lifeline of support for them through these breaks.
“We would like to send a huge thank you to Luke and the team for all their help and support during this potential crisis moment.”
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Elizabeth Paris, chairwoman of The Didcot Powerhouse Fund added: “We were delighted to hear that one of our donors could save the day for Be Free Young Carers and these are exactly the kind of positive connections we try to cultivate between our donors and grant recipients, beyond simply fundraising and grant-giving.
“The power of networking is incalculable, and this perfectly illustrates how collaboration can turn a negative into a positive.”
Barton Community Association was also left out of pocket after Heyfordian Travel ceased trading last Tuesday.
The group organise trips to give disadvantaged families the chance to get out of Oxford in the summer holidays.
An Oxford Mail fundraiser for the charity has surpassed the £2,000 total in less than five days thanks to around 50 donations.
To donate to the Oxford Mail’s fundraiser in support of Barton Community Association, access the page here.
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