Joe Langtree, operations director of Room to Reward, reveals how a simple, flexible model has won the backing of the hospitality industry while delivering unforgettable breaks for volunteers.
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Room to Reward has such a unique concept. Can you tell us how the idea came about and what inspired its creation?
Room to Reward was born in 2015 with our founder, Nicolas Roach, asking a simple question: “What do hotels do with unsold rooms?”. Every hotel knows when their busy times of year are going to be, but the other side of that coin is they can also predict when occupancy won’t be high and some rooms will sit empty. Surely they could be put to better use than just going to waste. The next step was who these rooms should go to. Obviously, there are so many people doing amazing things in society, but volunteers really underpin it all. We all benefit from the dedication of volunteers giving up their time to make a difference to charities, communities, sports clubs and more. Room to Reward is about giving these Hidden Heroes the chance to take some time back for themselves and enjoy a well-earned break, at no cost.

How does the Room to Reward process work—from hotel partnerships to volunteer nominations?
For our hospitality partners – the majority of which are hotels but also includes holiday parks, serviced apartments, BnB’s and holiday homes – it’s a simple partnership. We ask for 1 or 2 breaks a year (though more are always welcome!) of 1-2 nights for 2 people on a bed and breakfast basis. Partners can close out their busy periods and all requests are always subject to availability. We enjoy amazing support from the industry because of the simplicity of the donations and the significance of the impact. For voluntary organisations, they receive a set number of nominations they can make per year, based on the number of volunteers they have. Nominated volunteers must have been in place for at least 1 year, not in a Trustee position, involved in a voluntary capacity only and put forward with a supporting nomination statement of 250 words. Nominations can either be made across the year or at the same time to support volunteer awards events/celebrations. All nominations that meet the criteria will be approved – there’s no competition or prize draw element to the approval process. R2R is a ‘thank you’ rather than a prize.

You’ve partnered with over 1000 charities and community groups. What feedback have you received from them about the initiative?
We’ve had some amazing feedback, which is always very humbling to receive. Nobody needs to tell our partners how important their volunteers are – and obviously the breaks are hugely appreciated by the recipients – but the ability to put a significant volunteer recognition initiative in place also creates a sense of appreciation across the wider volunteering teams. We’ve heard countless examples of volunteers rejecting any form of a ‘thank you’ that impacts the organisation’s budget, so to be able to offer breaks where the value can run into thousands of pounds at no cost is really significant. Obviously, the hardest thing for our partners is choosing which volunteers to put forward – some use simple measurable metrics like length of service, most hours given in the year etc. Others take nominations from various departments, the volunteer teams, service users and others. One of the best things about R2R is seeing the incredible range of volunteering roles and the impact they all have. From end-of-life companions, crisis helpline volunteers and emergency response teams to admin supporters, dedicated fundraisers, sports coaches and much, much more. It’s a privilege to do something to thank these extraordinary people.

“Volunteers are integral to our organisation and this reward is a meaningful way for us to express our sincere thanks to those who often go above and beyond in their efforts. By partnering with Room to Reward, we can offer these exceptional individuals a well-deserved moment of rest and recognition.” – Suzanne Barnes, Head of Volunteering, Young Lives vs Cancer. https://www.roomtoreward.org/r2r-impact/

Can you share some standout stories from the charity's work?
We’re on course to deliver around 1000 breaks in 2025. One particular highlight is Jenny, who has volunteered in the children’s unit at Keech Hospice for over 10 years. The nomination spoke of how Jenny “is known to go way beyond her volunteering role, always giving 100% and showing compassion and kindness to our young patients. A patient with Keech Hospice Care was featured on a special edition of Children In Need Countryfile in 2019. This young lady talked about the support she gained at Keech Hospice Care and how Keech Hospice Care has even been to her school to talk about what’s going on and is helping her make her dream future a reality. Mum confirmed that her daughter has had a massive growth in confidence from the help and support offered by Keech Hospice Care. The volunteer that supported this young lady with her studies was Jenny, who not only offered educational and emotional support but was an advocate to ensure she received the right care and support not only at Keech Hospice Care but in the community. Jenny is a very passionate advocate for our children and young people and will do what she can to ensure they have the best quality of life.”

Jenny and husband Phil – who also helps fundraise for Keech – booked their break at The Dorchester, who have been wonderful R2R partners for a number of years. Jenny says: “Ever since we had a wonderful meal at the Dorchester some years ago, actually staying there was high up on our bucket list and thanks to Room to Reward and The Dorchester our dream came true. It was our 50th Wedding Anniversary six months prior to the break, which was the most wonderful the icing on the cake as far as our celebrations go. It is really hard to describe our feelings and response, we were truly astonished and honestly overwhelmed throughout our stay. Every single member of staff was so attentive and kind and genuinely friendly. We don’t have the words to express how grateful we are to Room to Reward and The Dorchester for this experience. It’s a privilege to volunteer at Keech Hospice, a truly amazing place. The nomination was a total surprise and the whole experience is still a little hard to believe. A mind-blowing break at a truly iconic hotel. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”.

One of the great strengths of Room to Reward is the variety of options and locations for volunteers, which enables them to choose the break that suits them best. From once-in-a-lifetime experiences like Jenny’s and exploring favourite or new parts of the U.K. to visiting friends and family or staying in an airport before an early flight, there’s something for everyone. Something that is only possible because of the wonderful support of our hospitality partners.

What are your goals for the future of Room to Reward?
Quite simple, more. More hospitality partners, more volunteers nominated, more breaks delivered. Our ultimate aim is to deliver 2000 breaks for volunteers every year. This equates to about £1million worth of breaks, delivered at no cost to the organisations, volunteers or hotels – beyond providing breakfast and servicing the room.

We obviously have some way to go to hit these goals, but with an average of 140,000 empty hotel rooms every night of the week across the U.K. and over 8 million people formally volunteering every month, it’s eminently achievable from both a supply and demand perspective. There’s a lot of Hidden Heroes out there!

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