Breaks for children
Breaks and holidays are really important for families. These can be both holidays to enjoy as a family or short breaks which provide a moment of respite for you and a chance for your child to experience new things. Here we outline the different types of breaks available and where to find them.
Breaks for children and families
Go Beyond is a national children's charity which provides free respite breaks to children aged 8 to 15 from all over the UK who would really benefit from a break from their home lives. They might be young carers, living in poverty, victims of bullying or abuse, or have been bereaved.
Tel: 01822 811020
Email: info@gobeyond.org.uk
Happy Days Children’s Charity work with local community’s right across the UK to provide vital respite breaks for individuals, families and groups who support children with additional needs.
The young people we help aged 3 to 17 years old come from many different backgrounds and cultures and suffer many different conditions. We offer help to those with learning difficulties, physical or mental disabilities and with acute, chronic or life limiting illnesses.
Tel: 01462 530710
Email: enquiries@happydayscharity.org
Kids Out Charity provides fun days for disadvantaged children across the UK up to the age of 18 whether they have escaped domestic violence or live daily in poverty.
Tel: 01525 385252
Email: info@kidsout.org.uk
The Newman Holiday Trust is a voluntary organisation which provides summer holidays for children with special needs. The trust provides holidays for over 120 disabled children aged 5 to 16 years old each year.
Tel: 0121 713 1077
Breaks for seriously ill or disabled children
Calum’s Cabin are holiday homes on the Isle of Bute for children 0 to 21 years old suffering from cancer or a cancer related disease, where the entire family can come together, spend quality family time together, make special irreplaceable memories and recharge their batteries for what may lie ahead.
Tel: 07544 979538
Email: enquiries@calumscabin.com
The Children’s Hope Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for children and young people affected by disability, illness and poverty by providing funding for computers, medical equipment and days out. We fund children aged between 3 to 17 years old who have special needs.
Tel: 0207 700 6855
Email: info@childrenshopefoundation.org.uk
Destination Florida organises life enhancing biennial trips to Florida for around 72 children from across the North of England aged 7 to 15 years old who have missed out on fun and laughter of childhood due to illness.
Please note: if you are a practitioner using the council system you may not be able to open the referral page. You will need to use a private internet connection for example your own PC or smart phone.
Tel: 0161 789 7788
Email: info@destinationflorida.org.uk
The Donna’s Dream House Charity offers free holidays to children and teenagers with life-limiting or terminal illnesses. Families can self-refer via the appropriate nomination form or they can be nominated by a professional supporting them.
The Snowdrop Centre at Donna's Dream House provides free short breaks for bereaved families, up to 2 years following the death of a child.
Tel: 01253 752222
Email: enquiries@donnasdreamhouse.co.uk
Dreamflight is a UK charity that changes young lives through taking children aged 8 to 14 years old with a serious illness or disability, without their parents, on the holiday of a lifetime to Orlando, Florida.
Tel: 01494 722733
Email: office@dreamflight.org
Dream Makers National Children’s Charity improves lives of sick children aged 3 to 13 years old suffering from different types of illnesses we provide holidays, therapy treatments and equipment.
Tel: 07816 124889
Email: dreammakers21@outlook.com
Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a national charity that rebuilds confidence after cancer, using sailing to support, empower and inspire young people between the ages of 8 to 24 years old in embracing their future with optimism.
Tel: 01983 297750
Email: info@emcancertrust.org
Emily Ash Trust is a charity that aims to improve lives of children and young people up to the age of 24 who have been diagnosed with cancer. It’s really important to us that your whole family is supported - parents and siblings are just as important to us as your poorly child. We arrange a number of adventure days, events and offer free breaks.
Tel: 079327 47585
Email: info@emilyashtrust.co.uk
Family Fund is the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people aged up to 18 years old. It offers a range of grants including help with breaks.
Tel: 01904 550055
Email: info@familyfund.org.uk
The Henry Smith Charity offer grants for children aged 13 years old and under who are from areas of high deprivation and disadvantaged or those who have a disability, towards holidays or outings within the UK.
Tel: 020 7264 4970
Heswall Disabled Children’s Holiday Fund hosts a completely free week-long summer camp each August for up to 30 boys aged 9 to 15 years old, from North West England, who have physical disabilities.
Email: applications@heswallcamp.org.uk
The Kids Cancer Charity is a national charity to support children aged 3 to 18 years old with cancer and their families. We provide holidays and staycations for families who need a break.
Tel: 01792 480500
Email: enquiries@kidscancercharity.org
Make-a-Wish is a charity which awards children aged 3 to 17 years old with life threatening illnesses. We provide life-changing wishes for children.
Tel: 01276 405060
Email: info@makeawish.org.uk
The Oliver Curd Trust provides holiday accommodation to families affected by childhood cancer and other life threatening and life-limiting conditions, including those experiencing bereavement.
Tel: 07856 119151
Email: enquiries@theolivercurdtrust.co.uk
Over the Wall provide breaks to make each camp a memorable, fun and empowering experience. All in a physically and medically safe environment. For children and young people aged 8 to 17 years old who are experiencing challenges of serious illnesses.
Tel: 02392 477110
Email: info@otw.org.uk
Rays of Sunshine is an award winning national charity that brightens the lives of seriously ill young people aged 3 to 18 years old and their families by granting wishes and providing ongoing support in hospital and within the community. We also organise outings and large scale events for seriously ill children.
Tel: 020 882 1171
Email: info@raysofsunshine.org.uk
Round Table Children’s Wish is a registered charity dedicated to granting handcrafted wishes for children and young people with life threatening illnesses across Britain and Ireland.
Tel: 01202 514515
Email: cassy@rtcw.org
Trefoil offers personal development grants to young people under the age of 25 years old with additional needs which may be psychological/social or of a physical nature which impacts upon their development.
Tel: 0131 220 2349
Email: trefoil@wssociety.co.uk
When You Wish upon a Star grants the wishes of children living with life threatening illness. For children aged 2 to 16 years old.
Tel: 0115 9791 720
Email: head.office@whenyouwish.org.uk
The Youth Cancer Trust provides support and free holidays in Bournemouth for teenagers and young adults (aged 14 to 30 years old) with cancer from anywhere in the UK and Ireland. The holidays provide an opportunity to have fun and chill out in a safe and relaxed environment with other people of your own age who understand what it’s like to have cancer.
Tel: 01305 584064
Email: admin@yct.org.uk
Dreams Come True is a national children’s charity, whose mission is to enrich the lives of children and young people aged 2 to 21 years old living with serious medical conditions.
Tel: 01428 726330
Email: info@dreamscometrue.uk.com
Breaks for adults/children with additional needs and support
Family Holiday Charity we provide breaks for UK families struggling with issues such as disability, severe and sudden illness, bereavement, mental health issues and domestic violence.
Tel: 020 3117 0650
Email: hello@familyholidaycharity.org.uk
Break provides short breaks which are renowned for innovation. For disabled young people aged 5 to 18 years old experience a fun time away from their families in a safe, secure environment while their parents and siblings enjoy a break from what can be a stressful situation.
Tel: 01603 670100
Email: reception@break-charity.org
Deaf Blind UK offer caravan breaks for deaf blind people. We all need a break sometimes, but we know that for some, staying away from home is not that easy. Our three self-catering caravans provide a home from home break at heavily discounted rates.
Tel: 01733 358100
Linking Help with Hope offers one off payments for carers breaks when funds permit to enable carers to take time out from day to day situations.
Tel: 01444 236 099
Email: secretary@lhh.org.uk
Queen Elizabeth’s foundation is a national charity committed to providing life-transforming services that enable people with disabilities. We work with over 5,000 children and adults every year with physical or learning disabilities or acquired brain injuries. Whether it’s gaining new skills to live independently, rehabilitation after a brain injury or stroke, or improving independence through increased mobility and accessible holidays.
Tel: 01372 841100
Email: info@qef.org.uk
The 3H Foundation provides subsidised group holidays for the physically disabled people who are aged 13 years old and above at well researched venues – giving their carers a valuable period of respite at the same time. Many have thought it was just not possible to get away but with the wealth of experience in organising accommodation, transport, activities, 3H can make it happen.
Tel: 01892 860207
Email: info@the3hfoundation.org.uk
Mind offers inclusive group holidays for their members, while others offer financial assistance to members towards the cost of a holiday.
Tel: 0300 123 3393
Email: info@mind.org.uk