A FAMILY-run coach service based in Dyserth is helping families in the region struggling amid the cost-of-living crisis by teaming up with attraction across North Wales to offer affordable days out.
Voel Coaches has organised trips to Liverpool’s museums, Anglesey Sea Zoo, Foel Farm Park, and the The National Slate Museum in Llanberis for families to enjoy, without the company itself standing to make any profit from the initiative.
The coach service will provide travel, which is charged at £10 per child and £12.50 per adult, while entry to the attractions will be free.
Chris Gentile, marketing manager at Voel Coaches, said it was important for the company to “do our bit”.
He said: “All we’re really doing is trying to run the trips at cost, breaking even, just for us to do our bit.
“It’s been a challenging year so far - there is clearly a need for it (financial help).
“We just thought we’d try and work with some of the local attractions at the end of summer, when the tourist trade may not be there so much as it is now.
“We’re a family-run business and we know times are hard. We’ve been through it during COVID, and we know how hard things are with the cost of electricity and fuel.
“For us, it was just a massive eye-opener how much families are really struggling, so this is our way of doing something for the community.”
With further dates to be revealed in due course, Voel Coaches will be welcoming passengers on board to visit the following sites on these days:
• Wednesday, August 31 - Liverpool (Chris added: “We have spoken to some of the museums, which are free entry, but they’re also donating staff time to do talks within the museums as well for them.”).
• Thursday, September 1 and Friday, September 2 - Anglesey Sea Zoo.
• Friday, September 2 and Saturday, September 3 - Foel Farm (Llanfair PG, Anglesey); and the National Slate Museum (Llanberis).
To book your place, go to: www.voelcoaches.com/itineraries/8971-cost-of-living-family-day-trips.
In March, Voel Coaches received an estimated £30,000 worth of donations of essential items in just three days to send to those in Ukraine, following Russia’s invasion of the country.
READ MORE:
WATCH: Dyserth coach service receives ‘truly overwhelming’ donations for Ukraine
Following this, Chris told the Journal: “It’s just been truly overwhelming… I’m speechless, really.
“We just wanted to dip our toe in the water to try and help those in need and before we knew it, we were full in our offices (with donations).”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here