Family Holiday Association

Homepage

The Family Holiday Association is only national charity dedicated to providing seaside breaks and day trips for families struggling with some of the toughest challenges life can bring.

For over 40 years, the Family Holiday Association has provided breaks for UK families struggling with issues such as disability, severe and sudden illness, bereavement, mental health issues and domestic violence.

The chance to enjoy a break away from the stresses of daily life is something that many of us take for granted, but thousands of UK children have never had the chance to enjoy a holiday.

The charity was founded on the belief that holidays are a lifeline, not a luxury, and this is a key principle that survives to this day. The majority of families we help have never before been on a family holiday.

The evidence shows that spending time together away from their daily struggles can be life-changing for the families we work with.

Typically, a family granted a break spends a week staying in a caravan in a UK seaside town. We have found that these simple holidays can have a positive effect on mental health, help strengthen relationships within the family and give family members a fresh perspective, providing them with the motivation to make positive changes to their lives. 

Families are referred to us by professionals working with them, such as social and health workers, teachers, or other charities such as Barnardo's and the NSPCC.

“My heart melts when I hear the youngest daughter talking about the fun she had on this holiday. There is very little fun in her life.”

                                                                 - Welfare agent, Darlington