After Umbrage provides free short breaks for anyone who has been looking after family members or loved ones with a life limiting condition. It is also able to offer breaks to carers within their first 12 months of bereavement.
The Respite Association provides funding for short term respite care for carers of the disabled, sick, elderly or terminally ill. Funding to allow the carer to have a break can vary in amounts up to an average of £400. Breaks can be for a few hours each week to time away from home. Care can take place in the person’s home or in a residential care centre.
The Victoria Convalescent Trust makes grants to fund or part fund short breaks for carers of any age living in England and Wales. Applications must be made by a suitably qualified professional or advice service.
The Garwood Foundation offers a range of services and support for children and adults with disabilities. It has a fully adapted holiday caravan for hire which is located at Church Farm Holiday Park in Pagham, West Sussex.
The Oliver Curd Trust was set up in memory of Oliver by his parents. It provides holiday accommodation for families supporting young people with childhood cancer and other life threatening illnesses.
The Holiday Homes Trust provides low cost specially adapted self catering holidays to the disabled, carers and their families. The Trust owns 10 caravans in UK locations. 9 are fully accessible with ramp entry and wet rooms.
Seagull Trust Cruises is a charitable organisation, wholly run by unpaid volunteers, that provides free barge trips for people with special needs.
Revitalise is a national charity providing respite care in a holiday setting for disabled people and carers. They currently run three accessible holiday centres in Essex, Southampton and Southport.
Residential and online adventure camps for children with health challenges and disabilities, and their families.
Fully accessible activity adventure holidays for families at Exmoor, Kielder and the Lake District. For individuals and groups of all ages and all types of disability, including carers’ breaks. Activities include: abseiling, sailing, canoeing, archery, horse riding, climbing and more.
Short activity holidays for children and adults with learning and multiple difficulties. Outdoor activities such as canoeing, biking and archery to suit all levels of ability in the care of a qualified team.
National Children’s charity providing free holiday breaks to disadvantaged children from all over the UK. Children are referred to Go Beyond by professionals.
The 3H Foundation helps families with a disabled family member to have a holiday in the UK by awarding a modest grant towards the holiday accommodation. Carers are able to apply for a carer grant enabling them to have a period of respite away without their cared for.
The Newman Trust provides summer holidays for children age 5 – 16 with special needs.
Destination Florida organises holidays to Florida for children between the ages of 7 – 15 who live in the North of England living with serious illness or disability.
Donna’s Dream House is a Blackpool based charity providing free holiday experiences for children and teenagers with life-threatening illnesses and their families, and for recently bereaved siblings and their families.
Dreamflight is a UK charity that changes young lives through taking children with a serious illness or disability, without their parents, on the holiday of a lifetime to Orlando, Florida.
Heswall Disabled Children’s Holiday Fund hosts two summer camps a year in different locations for children with physical disabilities aged 9-15.
Trefoil House provides holiday grants for children under the age of 18 with special needs or disability.
Break provides short breaks for young people with disabilities and complex needs, aged 5-18.
Kidney Care UK funds short breaks and holidays for adults and families affected by kidney disease.
Deafblind UK owns three caravans which are let at a low-cost rate to deaf blind members for holidays located in North Wales and Norfolk.
The League of the Helping Hand can offer one off payments for carers to take time out away from their day-to-day situation.
Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation offer grants for disabled people to have a break at a specialist centre or nursing home of their choice.
Have we missed anything? If you’d like to recommend an organisation or resource please let us know.
