The Lake District Foundation, the local charity caring for the Lake District, extends an extra thank-you to businesses for their continued support during the pandemic.
The charity works with businesses, visitors and other donors to support conservation, environmental and cultural heritage projects and programmes of work that help us work together to look after our amazing National Park.
The Lake District Foundation currently works with over 150 businesses who fundraise with and support the charity. There are many ways businesses can do this from branded products, visitor donations at booking and lots of events that connect with businesses and customers. Most businesses supporting the charity are in the tourism industry and have been hit hard with the impact of covid. However, despite the challenges presented, the businesses have continued to find ways to fundraise and are helping us to look after the natural world.
Sarah Swindley, Lake District Foundation’s CEO said, “The full impact of the Covid 19 is evident to all of us However, we have also seen how nature is providing real solace to people in these difficult times, and the positive benefits that people are reporting helps to underline just how important it is that, as we come out of this pandemic, we see our natural heritage as key to a sustainable, green and inclusive recovery. Even though people can’t visit now we know that the love of the Lake District will endure. A massive thank you to all our business supporters and donors who have stuck by us and want to be part of this future. We would like to extend a special thank you to Langdale Estates, TreeTop Treks, Lakes Distillery, Lake District Estates and Heart of the Lakes, to name but a few!”
The Langdale Estate, a luxury hotel and five-star self-catering, in the Langdale Valley have continued to donate during the pandemic.
Dan Viser, Marketing Director, Langdale Estate, explains: “We provide an annual donation and raise money via an opt out fundraising approach here at the Langdale Estate. We are proud to have raised over £260,000 for the Lake District Foundation since 2008. Our efforts over the years have allowed for local footpaths to be repaired, we’ve supported various environmental projects and our efforts have contributed to making the Lake District more accessible, safer and even more beautiful for those to explore. Even though we haven’t welcomed as many guests over the last year, we still feel it’s incredibly important to continue our annual donation to protect and care for the national park for today and the future”.
Another fundraising approach the Lake District Foundation uses is the ‘Opt In’ scheme where a voluntary donation can be added when booking online or in person. A mechanism proven popular with TreeTop Trek customers. However, despite restricted visitor numbers and business closures due to lockdowns they have continued to support the charity.
Mike Turner, Owner, TreeTop Trek, explains: “In an increasingly online and cashless society we decided to add an integrated donation function added to our online booking system which would encourage and enable visitor to support the Lake District Foundation. Sadly, the huge drop in visitor numbers this year has resulted in a drop in revenues for both business and charities alike. We were particularly inspired by the LDF latest local small grant fund campaign and were therefore delighted to be able to top up this years visitor giving as our own way of trying to give a little back to local communities which have been so badly affected by the pandemic”.
In normal times the charity works with a number of businesses who hold events throughout the year to raise funds from gala dinners to coffee mornings, and any proceeds raised would go to the Lake District Foundation. Public gatherings have been paused due to the pandemic but that hasn’t stopped one of the charity’s business supporters from getting creative to continue their fundraising efforts. This resulted in The Lakes Distillery, based in Bassenthwaite, holding a virtual event in December and raising £525.
The Lake District Foundation are continuing to find new ways of working during the pandemic and liaising closely with all business supporters, partners and donors to continue their fundraising efforts.
To find out more information about becoming a business supporter, click here.