800 families facing tough times to be offered subsidised holidays

A new £600,000 ‘England for Everyone’ fund will provide holidays and trips for more than 800 families facing difficult times.

Families who are struggling financially, facing illness, isolation or bereavement, will have an opportunity for a weekend break thanks to new funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in association with Family Holiday Charity and VisitEngland.

More than 800 holidays and trips for families over the next few months are expected to be funded by the £600,000 ‘England for Everyone’ fund. The fund will support parents, carers, and young people experiencing difficult times to get away, relax and enjoy themselves on a weekend break in England.

Families who may never have had a holiday can be referred to the charity for a weekend trip and will have a choice of where they will visit; from campsites to chalets and caravans to lodges across the country.

Referees could include people such as social workers and teachers, and holiday vouchers would be provided to help cover transport, accommodation and food. VisitEngland is also working closely with holiday parks to include free onsite activities.

Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston said: ‘Holidays provide a vital opportunity for people to reset, spend quality time together and improve their mental wellbeing. But for many families taking a break can be impossible.’

‘Following the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are helping families facing particularly tough times to have a much-needed break while supporting our brilliant tourism and hospitality sector.’

Research by Family Holiday Charity has shown that short breaks can have lasting long-term benefits for families and communities, with 85% of families finding children who had a break were going to school more regularly and 84% saying children were less isolated and getting more involved in their community since returning home. It also found benefits for the tourism sector, which included extending the season and supporting jobs.

Kat Lee, Chief Executive of the Family Holiday Charity said: ‘Holidays bring wellbeing and mental health benefits, and the opportunity to try new things and think differently. On holiday families make memories that help when times get tough. And families who have experienced a Family Holiday Charity break are more confident, better able to engage with learning and play a more active part in their communities.’

The fund will provide short breaks to families from Monday to Friday or over a weekend from Friday to Monday, who have not holidayed in four years or more. Each trip, worth up to £450, includes accommodation, with allowances towards travel and food.

In related news, a scheme to provide extra financial support to residents for food and energy bills this winter is being extended by Nottingham City Council.

Photo by Weiqi Xiong