Anthony’s Travel – Making a difference in the community
Anthony’s Travel’s company ethos has always been to support our local community and independent businesses and this has never been more important than now. Many small businesses have struggled to survive in recent times and we feel it is our duty to help fellow organisations in the region through this difficult time.
We strongly believe that by supporting fellow businesses in the community and working together we all become stronger and more resilient, which in turn benefits the whole community in the long run. With this in mind, Anthony’s Travel is involved with a number of charities and organisations:
A local, independent hospice situated in Runcorn, Halton Haven Hospice serves the people of Widnes, Runcorn and surrounding areas providing skilled nursing and medical care in a peaceful and relaxed environment.
Anthony’s Travel has been supporting Halton Haven Hospice for many years and in recognition of this, Richard has been asked to be a trustee of the organisation. He is honoured to take on the role and will use his position to bring his business knowledge and local business connections to help Halton Haven Hospice to continue and grow its vital work.
The Hospice provides palliative care for those people whose illness cannot be cured but who nevertheless require intervention from time to time, to limit the impact of the illness.
Many people believe that due to the nature of its services, hospices are sad, depressing places but Halton Haven Hospice is a surprisingly happy place which focuses on the person not just their illness. Staff make sure they spend time with patients and their families and often build truly special relationships.
Halton Haven Hospice relies on the support of the community. Each year it costs in access of £2m to maintain its services, over half of which has to be raised through voluntary contributions.
Support from local businesses is integral to keep Halton Haven Hospice functioning in the community and Anthony’s Travel s closely with the Hospice and provides them with a phenomenal amount of support not only financially but also through time and effort to help the organisation to achieve successful fundraising events and campaigns.
Our owner, Richard Bamber is a board member of the Halton Chamber of Commerce and is dedicated to helping support and grow the business community in the region. Supporting and promoting local business is central to the ethos of Anthony’s Travel and through his work at the Chamber, Richard passionately pursues this goal.
In recognition of his work in the business community, Richard has won a number of awards including the High Sheriff award in 2012 and again in 2015, the Cheshire Business Awards 2014 and the Halton Borough Council award for Responsible Business in 2017. It is Richard’s aim to build on these successes and for Anthony’s Travel to continue to be an inspiration to other local businesses.
In 2007 Robert Littler formed Victoria Music Group in the community as there were children all over the Halton borough with little means to be involved in the performing arts. Since that time Robert and his volunteers have worked tirelessly providing opportunities for hundreds of people along the way. They have produced theatre shows giving access to people who never dreamed they would participate in performance at that level and the charity has grown from strength to strength.
Robert has this to say…”Without the help of fabulous companies like Anthony’s Travel we could not afford to all we do for disadvantaged and disabled people. The Team at Anthony’s really gets behind community and has been an immense help to Victoria Music and we are proud to have the connection with such an amazing local business.”
The Mark Gorry Foundation was founded in 2009 by Mark and Leah Gorry with the support of their closest family and friends.
Mark had been battling testicular cancer for 9 months and wanted to offer help and advice around the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer and promote self examination, as well as raise one million pounds for Clatterbridge Centre of Oncology and supporting charities, as a thank you for the care they gave him through his illness.
Unfortunately, Mark passed away shortly after the foundation was started but the team are committed to making Mark’s vision come true. In the last 2 years the MGF delivered education and awareness sessions across England and Wales to thousands of people, including an award winning entry to the Manchester Pride Parade 2011.
The MGF have also raised close to £100,000 with their latest donation of £40,000 going to Clatterbridge, after 53 cyclists rode from London to Paris in May 2011.
Mark was employed by O2 Preston Brook, Anthony’s Travel are an official supplier of staff transport to O2/ Telefonica and were delighted to be approached and be associated with the Mark Gorry Foundation.
Sgt. Thomas Mottershead statue appeal are extremely proud and honoured that Anthony’s Travel were at the launch of the Sgt. Thomas Mottershead statue appeal in Widnes Victoria Park on Tuesday 20th May 2014, and they have been supporting us ever since. Not only have they donated to the appeal, but they have provided much needed valuable advice on how to promote the appeal, and given us a belief that we can raise the funds to bring this statue to fruition and make the people of Halton PROUD of their hero.
The statue isn’t just about Tom, he represents everyone who has and are willing to serve our country irrespective where they come from and what they have done or doing. Tom also shows that everyone can help in one way or another others who are in a less fortunate position. We truly believe other local companies have started to support us because of Anthony’s Travel support. They have also introduced us to Widnes Vikings who are now a supporter of the Appeal. The Committee cannot thank Richard Bamber and Anthony’s Travel enough for their valuable support.
“A Top Local family run Company run by Top Local People who give valuable support and investment in local community projects and people.”
As the founder of both the Todger Jones and Sgt. Thomas Mottershead statue appeals, I would like to thank Richard and Anthony’s Travel for making a big difference in making both appeals come to fruition, they have helped and guided me through difficult times in fund raising, each time has made a big difference. I can honestly say, without Anthony’s Travel both appeals would have struggled. They put me in contact with other people who could and did help the appeal, and still do. All thanks to Richard and his team.
Tony Miller
Secretary and founder of the Sgt. Thomas Mottershead statue appeal.
Todger Jones statue appeal founder.
The Cathie Stankevitch Foundation was founded in November 2015 after the tragic death of Cathie Stankevitch who was struck by a vehicle whilst out walking her dogs along a public footpath in Widnes in late September 2015. Cathie was a passionate supporter of local charities and particularly passionate about the welfare of children and young people in Halton, and she was a huge loss to her loving family and a huge loss to the local community, where she had many friends.
Cathie’s son John, took him mum’s passion for social inclusion and opportunity, for children and young people, and put together a vision for making positive changes in his mums name, and in September 2016, the Cathie Stankevitch Foundation was granted official Charitable Status.
2016 was a year of fundraising for the Cathie Stankevitch Foundation and the support shown in the events that were hosted was fantastic, with the highlight being a Legends Charity Rugby League event involving former Professionals from Widnes Vikings and St Helens. The day raised over £10,000 and the funds will be used for numerous Community Projects in 2017, incuding a sports inclusion project which will provide disadvantaged young people with sportswear and sports equipment to enable them to participate in sporting activities outside of school hours.
2017 is set to be a huge year for the Charity, with a full program of fundraising events already planned out, including what will now be the Annual Legends Rugby Event, a Golf Day, numerous Motown and Soul Evenings, and some childrens themed events. In addition to the fundraising events, achieving Charity Status has enabled the Cathie Stankevitch Foundation to think even bigger and plans are in place to create some exciting and unique facilities in Halton which will open up many opportunities to help local children and young people develop their skills.
After such a fantastic first 12 months, the Cathie Stankevitch Foundation were honoured to be nominated for the Wire FM Local Hero Awards in the category of ‘Contribution to Charity’. It was even more incredible to hear local people talking about how inspired they had been through the work that John has undertaken thus far in his mums name. Being chosen as the winner of the Contribution to Charity award was simply amazing, and the award was dedicated to the sacrifices that Cathie had made for her family and friends throughout her life.
Adding further inspiration for the Trustees and volunteers to strive to make even more of a difference to others in 2017 and beyond.
Find out more about our work…
For an overview of our latest community projects – please click here.
Anthony’s Travel were a proud winner at Cheshire Business Awards 2014 in the Corporate Social Responsibility category. The Awards were held at a jammed packed Chester Race Course with some of the biggest and brightest companies Cheshire has offer.
With an increase of over 40%of entrants, this years awards were particularly tough to judge especially the category in which we were entered. We have been reliably informed that this group was this the tightest of them all.
We are really proud to have made the final three and that the work we do within the local community and with the charities that we support was recognised.
As a family owned company based in Runcorn, Cheshire, Anthony’s Travel takes its responsibility to the local community seriously.
We are proud of our background, geographical location and local workforce, whilst at times it seems the world is a smaller place its important to recognise the needs of your own locality, therefore we endeavour to support and strengthen our links within the local community offering our time, assistance and where possible funding.
To find out more about our involvement in local projects, take a look at our news articles…
