'I've cried, I've not slept but I still love being a travel agent'

Independent travel agents can now become mental health first aiders and learn vital skills to support colleagues and industry peers through a newly launched initiative from TTG and Abta LifeLine.

Five agents will initially be chosen to take part in the Get Travel Talking Champions scheme, part of the next phase of the Get Travel Talking campaign – launched by TTG in September 2020 to raise awareness of, and increase support for, mental health challenges facing travel staff.

The programme will fully fund places for agents on a two-day mental health first aid course run by St John Ambulance.

After completing their training, agents will become Get Travel Talking Champions and act as ambassadors for better mental wellbeing, whether that’s in their own workplace, with agents in their local area, among fellow consortia members, or by providing support to someone new.

The voluntary role is about being there to listen, offer support to those who need it, and guiding people to the right services – such as Abta LifeLine – when more specialist help is required. continued support.

Anyone interested in finding out more or becoming a champion should contact Trudie Clements at tclements@abta.co.uk