30/07/2014 - Skills give back to local community through support for seaside trip
Annual ‘6five2’s Fun Run to Skegness’.
East Midlands-based McEwen's Coaches, part of the Skills Holidays Group, has linked in with Nottinghamshire's 6five2's Taxis once again this summer to take around 400 day trippers on the annual ‘6five2's Fun Run to Skegness'.
The ‘fun run' sees a fleet of around 40 taxis, minibuses and coaches taking local families for a day out at the coast.
The companies work together with the Sure Start Children's Centres across the Mansfield area to offer the fantastic free trip to families who wouldn't otherwise be able to go on holiday this summer.
John McEwen, general manager at McEwen's Coaches in Mansfield, has been working on the project with Barry Answer from 6five2's Taxis since the trips started six years ago.
"When McEwen's joined the Skills Group in 2013, I was delighted that the Board agreed to keep up the support for the Skegness trip," said John. "Local travel and leisure providers really come together each year to deliver this trip - from the bowling alley where we pick up the passengers, to the fish and chip and ice cream shops and donkey ride team in Skegness who give the families free refreshments and entertainment paid for by 6five2's Taxis.
"It's a great way for the industry to give back to the community, and it's wonderful seeing the families enjoying such a great day."
Laver Holidays from Loughborough also joined the Skills Group in 2014, and the expansion means the group now covers much of the East Midlands.
"As one of the leading coach holiday operators in the region we're geared up for exactly this kind of group trip," said Chair Nigel Skill.
"We're committed to sustainable tourism, and our Go Green programme includes a focus on social responsibility and supporting the local community. The fun run is just one of a range of community projects and charities that we support."
Barry Answer from 6five2's Taxis added: "We're really grateful to Skills for their support - this annual trip means such a lot to the families who come along and have a fabulous time. We often get kids who have never seen the sea before - one boy even filled his pockets with sand to bring some of the beach back home!"
The trip took place during the first week of the school holidays on Tuesday 29 July and Skills provided two coaches and fuel free of charge.
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