At Silver Travel Advisor we have discovered a wonderful organisation called the Holiday Homes Trust, a registered national charity, which provides very reasonably priced self-catering holiday accommodation for any family whose quality of life is diminished by disability or infirmity.
We feel that the Trust may be of interest to Silver Travellers or their relatives, as it provides accommodation in a welcoming family environment for any family or group who has a member with special needs, and this includes families with elderly or frail members, people with their carers’, single parent families and low income families.
There are 10 caravans at coastal holiday parks around the UK in Yorkshire, West Sussex, Norfolk, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Devon, Dorset, Cornwall*.
Holidaymakers include those who are wheelchair reliant because of disabilities and the Trust provides the opportunity for every single family member to enjoy freedom and life away from the home environment. Most of the families who book a holiday through the Holiday Homes Trust have not had a family holiday for a number of years (if at all), as they have not been able to find suitable, inexpensive accommodation that would suit their needs.
The Trust brings families together in a relaxing, welcoming environment where their needs are catered for, and they can simply enjoy a leisurely break. Many disabled clients come with their carers’, who also benefit from a change in surroundings.
All holidaymakers are encouraged to complete evaluation forms at the end of their holidays. Here are just two of the many positive comments received:
“The accommodation was excellent, really spacious and so easy for my disabled sister in the shower room. Thank you, just what we all needed”
“A huge thank you for providing families like ours the chance to have a holiday.”
Without the help of the Trust, some families would not be able to afford a holiday at popular Holiday Parks as the prices are lower than booking directly at the parks for a disabled caravan. Also, without the wheelchair access a lot of disabled people are unable to have a holiday in a caravan. The feedback received from families with a disabled member has been very positive and they frequently mention that without the Trust they would not have been able to have had a holiday.
Booking enquiries are welcomed and out of season prices are very reasonable (as low as £210 for a week’s holiday) and include gas/electricity and entertainment passes.
For more information, please visit www.holidayhomestrust.org
Or email holiday.homes.trust@scouts.org.uk or call 020 8433 7290/1
*Filey (Haven), Pagham, West Sussex (Haven), Exmouth in Devon (Haven), Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire (Haven), Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Haven), New Milton in Hampshire (Hoburne Naish), Paignton in Devon (Hoburne Torbay), Poole in Dorset (Haven), Weymouth, Dorset (Haven), St. Austell in Cornwall (Pentewan Sands Holiday Park). All the caravans have wheelchair ramp access and are adapted inside with wider doorway and sliding doors. Two of the caravans (New Milton, and Paignton) have wheel-in showers.
