Thousands of key workers across the UK are being forced to relocate or isolate away from their families to carry out essential work during the coronavirus pandemic – and now a new website is bringing together available rooms in one central location so that they can find accommodation while they carry out their vital work.
Stays for Heroes, the initiative launched by online booking specialist eviivo, is appealing to property owners to list their accommodation through a dedicated appeal page.
More than 1,000 properties have already listed their properties – some at special rates – to key workers including NHS staff, delivery drivers and utilities personnel. NHS trusts, companies and individuals seeking accommodation can view all available properties on the Stays for Heroes website and book direct with properties.
It is hoped that this will help make it easier for employers and staff working on the frontline who need to stay while isolating or to carry out shift work to find accommodation, while also supporting small, independent hospitality businesses which have been hit severely by COVID-19.
Ian Hardwick, Partnerships Director at eviivo, said: “So many essential workers are facing immense pressure to keep the country going, and many of them are being forced to move out of their homes either to isolate away from their families or to be closer to work.
“At the same time, the independent accommodation sector has been impacted tremendously, with thousands of bookings being cancelled in the wake of the crisis. Rooms that would usually be booked are now empty, so we decided to bring our community of properties together to try to help those most at need while also supporting these local, often family-run businesses at the same time.
“In recent weeks there has been a real sense of coming together, and we hope that through Stays for Heroes we can do our bit to support.”
The B&B Association has praised the initiative. The organisation’s chairman, David Weston, commented: “Business has dried up for thousands of B&Bs all over the country, which would normally be filling up with bookings over the next few months.
“Having spoken to many property owners who are listing their accommodation through Stays for Heroes, it allows them to remain open while also making it that bit easier for key workers to find rooms in their area. They are working round the clock to keep the country going and having a comfortable, safe place to stay will hopefully go some way towards supporting the incredible work they are doing.”
Key workers can find a property near them by viewing the map on Stays for Heroes, and property owners can also get involved by listing their accommodation.
