Holiday Grants
Finding the right support for a much-needed break can make all the difference, and a holiday grant can help provide a full week away or a helpful contribution towards your costs.
We have put together links to wonderful charities that specialise in supporting families and individuals in need of a getaway. Please be aware that some organisations require a formal referral from a social worker or healthcare professional to apply.
We always encourage you to stay safe online; always verify the charity’s credentials and be cautious when sharing sensitive financial, personal and medical information.
For additional support and advice regarding travelling with a complex need, visit: https://fopfriends.com/accessible-travel/
The Sandcastle Trust is a dedicated UK charity that supports families living with rare genetic conditions by helping them create lasting, positive memories.
They provide bespoke respite packages, which can include anything from a short UK break to annual attraction passes or special day trips tailored to each family’s unique needs. Their mission is to strengthen family relationships and improve emotional wellbeing, ensuring that those facing the challenges of a rare diagnosis do not have to do so alone.
Find out more: The Sandcastle Trust
Together for Short Lives is a leading UK charity that supports children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families.
They provide a wealth of information and resources to help families access much-needed short breaks or holidays, ensuring they can create precious memories together. Through their helpline and online directory, they guide families toward various grants, specialist holiday homes, and activity camps tailored to their specific care needs.
Find out more: Together for Short Lives
Harry’s Pals is a charity that focuses on the emotional wellbeing of parents and carers of children with severe illnesses or disabilities.
They offer short respite breaks, typically for two to four nights, at various locations to allow families a vital chance to rest and recuperate. Whether you need a break alone, with a partner, or for the whole family, they aim to provide a supportive environment to help improve your family’s overall mental health.
Find out more: Harry’s Pals
Kids is a national charity that provides essential overnight short breaks, offering children and young people with disabilities a safe and fun “sleepover” experience in a homely environment.
These residential breaks are designed to help young people gain independence and socialise with friends, while giving their parents and carers a vital opportunity to recharge. Most of these services are accessed through local authority referrals, ensuring that support is tailored to the specific needs of each family.
Find out more: Kids
The Henry Smith Charity Holiday Grants programme provides one-off grants of up to £3,000 to support recreational trips for children aged 13 and under who face disability or severe financial hardship.
These grants are available to schools, youth groups, and non-profit organisations to fund day trips or short residential breaks within the UK. The charity prioritises applications from the UK’s most deprived areas, aiming to give children fun and memorable experiences that they might otherwise miss out on..
Find out more: Henry Smith Holidays
The Family Holiday Charity offers much-needed breaks for families on low incomes who are facing significant challenges such as illness, bereavement, or isolation.
They believe that every child deserves the chance to see the sea or experience a change of scenery, providing trips that help families reconnect and build lasting memories. To ensure support reaches those who need it most, applications must be made through a professional referrer, such as a teacher, social worker, or health visitor.
Find out more: Family Holiday Charity
Happy Days Children’s Charity helps children across the UK who are living with mental, physical, and emotional difficulties by funding special holidays and day trips.
They provide families with much-needed breaks to the seaside or countryside, as well as organising group outings for SEND schools and other support centres. Their goal is to remove barriers and offer children the chance to build confidence, try new activities, and make wonderful memories in a supportive environment.
Find out more: Happy Days
The Adamson Trust is a long-established charity that provides financial help towards the cost of holidays or respite breaks for disabled children aged between 3 and 17.
They support individual families as well as groups, helping children with physical, mental, or emotional impairments enjoy a much-needed change of scenery. Applications are reviewed quarterly, and you will need to provide evidence of the disability from a medical or social services professional as part of the process.
Find out more: The Adamson Trust
The 3H Foundation (formerly Helping Hands for Holidays) has been supporting families for nearly 50 years.
They offer holiday grants for those with disabilities and their carers to help with the costs of a UK break. Beyond grants, they also organise subsidised group holidays for adults with disabilities, allowing them to enjoy independence from their usual carers, and provide special “TeensPLUS” activity days and “Respite Hampers” for carers who need a moment of relaxation at home.
Find out more: The 3H Foundation
Phab has been promoting inclusion for over 65 years by bringing disabled and non-disabled people together.
Through its national network of over 130 local clubs and its “Phab Adventures” programme, the charity offers inclusive holiday experiences, weekend breaks, and day events. These activities are designed to build confidence, independence, and lifelong friendships in a supportive environment where everyone, regardless of ability, can participate in outdoor challenges and social fun.
Find out more: Phab
Over The Wall provides free, high-energy residential camps for children with serious health challenges, as well as separate camps for their siblings and families.
Their “mischief and magic” approach uses therapeutic recreation to help young people build confidence and self-esteem while having a brilliant time. They also offer “Camp in the Cloud” for those who want to experience the fun of camp from the comfort of their own home.
Find out more: Over the Wall Camp
Go Beyond provides free, week-long residential breaks for children who face significant challenges in their lives, such as acting as young carers, living in poverty, or struggling with bereavement.
During these stays in the countryside or by the coast, children are given the chance to pack their troubles away and enjoy adventures like toasting marshmallows and exploring the great outdoors. These breaks are designed to inspire imagination and build confidence, and children must be referred by a professional who knows their circumstances.
Find out more: Go Beyond
Family Fund is the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children, offering support for a wide range of essential items and family breaks.
Their holiday grants allow families to choose from accessible UK-based holidays at Haven or Butlin’s, or even contribute towards trips abroad through their partner, Inspire. These breaks are designed to provide much-needed quality time together, helping families to rest, recharge, and create joyful memories away from the daily pressures of care.
Find out more: Family Fund Family Breaks
My Family Our Needs is a comprehensive online resource designed to support families and carers of children with additional needs by providing practical advice on accessible travel and respite.
Their dedicated holiday section offers a wealth of information on specialist providers, ranging from autism-friendly caravans to adventure centers like the Calvert Trust. In addition to travel tips, they highlight various charities and grant-making bodies that can help ease the financial burden of planning a much-needed family getaway.
Find out more: My Family Our Needs
Disability Grants is a comprehensive self-help resource that directs families to various funding opportunities for children with additional needs.
Their holiday section lists a wide range of specialist charities, such as Donna’s Dream House and Happy Days, which provide everything from themed seaside apartments to activity-based breaks. The site serves as an essential starting point for parents and professionals to research specific eligibility criteria, including grants for equipment, travel, and respite.
Find out more: Disability Grants Catalogue