Loneliness and distress affect many children and young people – not least in the wake of two years of lockdowns.

And the National Association against Eating Disorders and Self-Harm is currently experiencing particularly high numbers of inquiries from children and young people who have started self-harming or whose eating disorders are escalating.

At the same time, the organization has lost many volunteers due to the COVID-19 situation, where the volunteers have been unable to participate in the organization's counseling efforts.

DIRECTOR: NOW WE MUST RECRUIT AND TRAIN 100 VOLUNTEERS
But now a donation of 100,000 kroner from 'Fonden Sol og Strand ved Margit og Kjeld', which owns Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rentals A/S, opens the door for the National Association against Eating Disorders and Self-Harm to initiate the recruitment of up to 100 more volunteers.

– We are incredibly happy and grateful that 'Fonden Sol og Strand ved Margit og Kjeld' has once again chosen to support our work. With the donation, we can now put extra efforts into recruiting and training many new, skilled volunteers across the country, says Laila Walther, director of the National Association against Eating Disorders and Self-Harm.

– Unfortunately, we have clearly felt the effects of the COVID-19 situation. Both in terms of an increased number of inquiries from children and young people who are experiencing their eating disorders or self-harm escalating. But also because we have lost many of our volunteers during the lockdowns, where they have not been able to attend counseling.

– Thanks to the donation from 'Fonden Sol og Strand ved Margit og Kjeld', we can now look forward to helping even more young people and their relatives, says the director of the National Association against Eating Disorders and Self-Harm, Laila Walther.

”HOLIDAY WITH A GOOD HEART” – THE PROFITS BENEFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, NOT CAPITAL FUNDS
It is unique in the Danish tourism industry that the vast majority of the profits from Sol og Strand's rental of summer houses and holiday homes over a few years are converted into support for charitable and local causes. Instead of ending up in foreign capital funds and money tanks.

The chairman of the fund's board, Jens Stadum, is pleased that both homeowners, holiday guests, and employees have contributed input to the process – and that the fund can now distribute one million kroner to charitable purposes for the second year in a row:

– We can see from the applications – and from the feedback we receive from last year's recipients of donations from ”Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld” – that the money makes an important difference for many of the people who are struggling and facing challenges. And this applies both in Denmark and outside Danish borders. There is a real need for money, says the chairman.

– We can say with a clear conscience that you contribute to doing something good for others when you take a holiday through Sol og Strand. This is what we call ”Holiday with a good heart,” says Jens Stadum.

– We have already decided that we will open for applications for the next distribution pool after the summer of 2022, so that next year in December we can also allocate 1 million kroner to good causes. Our expectation is that from 2023 we can distribute even larger amounts from the fund. Just like this year, the plan going forward is to gather input from homeowners, holiday guests, and employees at Sol og Strand when we open for applications for the next distributions, says Jens Stadum.

FOUNDERS OF THE FOUNDATION: SOL OG STRAND MUST REMAIN DANISH – AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE
It is the founders of Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S, Margit and Kjeld Andersen, who established the "Fonden Sol og Strand ved Margit og Kjeld".

The couple had a dual wish – namely to keep Sol og Strand in Danish hands, but also to ensure that the company's profits primarily go to charitable and humanitarian purposes.

– We have received the money we need. And we can see that others can greatly benefit from it if we channel the profits further to humanitarian and charitable purposes. We are confirmed in this when we see the long line of qualified applications that have come to the foundation again this year, says Kjeld Andersen, who, together with his wife Margit Andersen, established Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental 42 years ago.

Margit Andersen adds:

– We are very pleased to see the quality of the work we donate money to. It is clear that the applications come from organizations that are passionate about making a difference. And that is what matters to us, says Margit Andersen.

FURTHER COMMENTS:

Laila Walther,
director of the National Association against Eating Disorders and Self-Harm,
tel. 51 17 75 88

Jens Stadum,
chairman of the board of "Fonden Sol og Strand ved Margit og Kjeld",
tel. 40 85 67 33

Kristian Andersen,
PR and press manager at Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S,
tel. 40 29 38 37