22nd May 2023, by Parkdean Resorts

Parkdean Resorts, the UK’s largest holiday park operator, has gifted free holidays to a select group of lucky volunteers from the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association (LDSAMRA), as a reward for their hard work and dedication in keeping the public and its holidaymakers safe.

The holiday park operator works with the organisation to ensure holidaymakers are educated in how to keep themselves safe when exploring the local area, and has gifted four short-stay breaks to the volunteers, who get no financial reward for their work.

Toby Durston, Regional Director at Parkdean Resorts, recently met with Richard Warren, Chairman of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, and Nick Owen, Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team, to select the recipients by drawing four names from a hat. The lucky recipients are now eligible to book their holiday at one of Parkdean Resorts’ holiday parks in the Lake District including Fallbarrow and White Cross Bay on Lake Windermere, and nearby Limefitt Park.

"hugely grateful"

Commenting on the news, Toby Durston, Regional Director at Parkdean Resorts, said: “We are hugely grateful to the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association team for all the work they have done and put into the local community. They have been integral in educating guests on how to prepare and make sure they are properly equipped in order to safely explore the local area, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the hard work of volunteers who have sacrificed their own time to help the community. We wanted to show our thanks and appreciation to these volunteers for all their hard work, and we hope they’ll enjoy their holiday with us at one of our stunning Lake District parks.”

Richard Warren, Chairman of LDSAMRA, which represents and supports the twelve Cumbrian teams consisting of 400 volunteers, said: “When Toby got in touch to propose the gift of free holidays, we were taken aback by such a generous offer and as the relationship developed, we were extremely impressed by Parkdean Resorts’ readiness to join, and indeed help develop our safety awareness campaign #BeAdventureSmart. It is heartwarming, overwhelming and very much appreciated by us all."

Parkdean Resorts has recently announced a recruitment drive for the 2023 season, and is hiring almost 200 new recruits in the Lake District. With 250 different careers available across its business, Parkdean Resorts is hiring for a wide range of roles in different departments. In particular, the holiday park operator is looking for new cleaners, bar staff, chefs, kitchen team members, waiting staff, receptionists, lifeguards and security officers. Across its 65 UK-wide parks, Parkdean Resorts is recruiting 11,000 people in total, with over 10,000 seasonal and 750 permanent roles on offer.