Holidaymakers at one of Dorset’s largest holiday park operators have raised over £50,000 for the Jurassic Coast Trust since 2008, making a massive contribution towards looking after and helping people to understand England’s natural World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast.
West Dorset Leisure Holidays’ customers can make a small optional donation of £1 or less when booking their stay at one of the company’s five parks. This has accumulated over the last nine years to over £57,000, providing critical funding to look after the Jurassic Coast, meeting our obligations to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and to the world. 2016 was particularly successful, with customers raising over £7,000 in donations across Highlands End, Golden Cap, Graston Copse, Larkfield and Sandyholme Holiday Parks.
As the Jurassic Coast Trust looks to take on a greater role in management of the World Heritage Site later in 2017, securing support from local businesses is more important than ever. Local businesses are normally amongst the first people that tourists meet when they get to the Jurassic Coast, and it is vitally important that their staff can tell visitors about the world class environment, and also the things to watch out for, like staying away from the cliffs at West Bay. Business can get involved with the Jurassic Coast Trust through our Business Partner Scheme.
The Trust is launching a new tier of business membership this year entitled, “Lead Business Partners”, of which West Dorset Leisure Holidays are a founding member. Lead Business Partners are those companies who contribute £3,000 or more annually to help the Trust look after the coast, educate people about its stories, recruit and train volunteers, and publicise safety messages.
Sam Scriven, Sam Rose & Guy Kerr from the Jurassic Coast Team with Martin Cox of West Dorset Leisure Holidays.
Martin Cox from West Dorset Leisure Holidays said, “It is great to be able to contribute to the Jurassic Coast Trust, and we are proud to have passed the £50,000 fundraising mark. We are very lucky to live in West Dorset and for our visitors to be able to give something back to the local area is an added benefit for all of us.”
Sam Rose, Chief Executive Designate for the Jurassic Coast Trust said, “We are delighted to have the support of West Dorset Leisure Holidays. Martin and his fantastic team are an exemplar to all local businesses about how to help give back to our very special local environment. We congratulate them on reaching this milestone, and look forward to working with them and our other Business Partners for many years to come.”
The Jurassic Coast Trust will work closely with West Dorset Leisure Holidays in 2017. This will include using their mobile apps for holiday parks and also offering talks and guided walks for guests at Highlands End Holiday Park, delivered by the Jurassic Coast’s volunteer Ambassadors.
