Our Family Respite Service supports families impacted by rare genetic conditions to spend positive, meaningful time together to support their emotional well-being and resilience.

We do this by offering free short breaks, special days out, and at home experiences that support emotional wellbeing, resilience, and family connection.

Sandcastle Memories are free short breaks or special day trips/experiences for families. They are designed to help families step away from daily routines and make positive memories together.

Sandcastle Memories can include:

• A short break in one of our wheelchair-accessible caravans
• An alternative accessible short break, where our caravans are not suitable
• Special days out or annual passes to inclusive attractions

We currently have two wheelchair-accessible caravans:

• Skegness
• North Wales

We are also fundraising for a third caravan on the South Coast.

Outside of school holidays, we can usually offer short breaks of up to a maximum of seven nights.

During school holidays, we offer shorter breaks, either Friday to Monday or Monday to Friday. This is due to the significantly higher cost of accommodation during school holiday periods.

Unless exceptional circumstances apply, we are unable to offer Sandcastle Memories short breaks in school holidays for families without school-aged children. This helps us to use our funding responsibly and ensure the service remains fair and accessible to as many families as possible.

In most cases, no. Unless exceptional circumstances apply, we are unable to offer Sandcastle Memories short breaks during school holidays for families without school-aged children.
This helps us use our funding responsibly and ensures the service remains fair and accessible to as many families as possible.

Alternative short breaks are offered only when our caravans are not suitable, for example due to:

• Geographic location
• Family size
• Accessibility requirements
• Complex medical needs requiring a particular location (for example near a particular hospital/hospice).

Alternative breaks are arranged in comparable, UK-based accessible accommodation through one of our accessible holiday partners and a per person funding cap applies to ensure the support we provide is equitable across all families

Each family unit is eligible to apply for one free respite break, special day trip, or annual attraction pass. If you have previously received a break, special day trip, or annual attraction pass through us, you are still welcome to rent one of our caravans at a heavily subsidised rate via our Fair Breaks service.

This does not apply to donated breaks or Sandcastle Santa – you can apply for these even if you have benefited before.

Yes. Where an alternative short break or special day out is applied for, we use a per-person funding cap to ensure the Sandcastle Memory is equitable with the cost of a stay in our own accommodation.
Full details of the funding cap are provided in the application form.

Sandcastle Santa is an annual festive programme that forms part of our Family Respite Service. It offers families the opportunity to enjoy a festive experience together during the winter season.

Yes. Unlike other elements of the Family Respite Service, which can usually only be awarded once, families may benefit from Sandcastle Santa more than once, depending on available funding.

Applications for Sandcastle Santa are by invitation only, based on the funding available each year. If you are invited to apply, you can request:

• A visit to see Santa at a local, accessible attraction
• An alternative festive day out where a Santa visit is not age- or needs-appropriate, such as winter light displays or pantomimes

Yes. Sandcastle Santa experiences are subject to a maximum funding cap per person, with full details shared in the application form. This helps ensure the programme is equitable across all families we support.

Yes it is!

Our free breaks are intended to support people living with a rare genetic condition (of any age) and, where applicable, their immediate family members. We use the term Family Respite Service to emphasise that, where it applies, this support service can be beneficial to the  wellbeing of the whole family.

Adults with a rare genetic condition are very welcome to apply for a break in their own right. This includes breaks where you attend independently, supported by your carers rather than family members.

Our focus is on providing meaningful respite that supports emotional wellbeing, rest, and quality time, in a way that reflects your individual circumstances and support needs.