ST JOHN’S HOLIDAY HAVEN FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
Over the Easter Holidays, St John’s Beaumont will be playing host to 25 children with disabilities and their volunteer carers who will partake in a wealth of activities, making the most of the wonderful facilities at the school.
The holiday is organised by the St John’s Holidays for Children Trust and is part-funded with monies raised by the school’s parent committee, Friends of St John’s. The charity was founded by former pupils in 1975, based on the school’s Roman Catholic principle of service and helping others.
What an absolutely fantastic and amazing charity – words fail me, honestly. You are all doing an amazing job, I can not tell you how much we appreciate it.
A Parent
The Trust provides residential activity holidays for children in the Thames Valley area with physical and learning difficulties with the aim to:
- Give the children an opportunity to try new activities, meet new people and enjoy new experiences.
- Give children a holiday that they can enjoy and which will also aid their personal development.
- Provide much-needed respite for the parents and families.
- Allow these children to enjoy the same experiences that other children have regularly
During Kids’ Week, as the holidays are more affectionately known, the children will have an exciting timetable of activities including bowling, a trip to a theme park, a disco and an indoor play centre. On top of this, they will get to enjoy the extensive facilities of the school, including the pool, climbing wall and sports hall.
At the same time, these holidays are designed to allow their own families to have a well-deserved holiday too. For many families, this might be the first respite in the child’s life. Parents have the opportunity to spend time with their other children or go on a holiday.
You are all unbelievable and heaven sent.
A parent
Throughout the week, the children have dedicated one-to-one helpers, forming an important bond and caring for them 24 hours a day. These helpers are students or young professionals who volunteer their time. The strong sense of camaraderie, friendship and unity that exists between these volunteers is one of the charity’s greatest assets.
So impressed by all the helpers. It was so, so refreshing to meet people that we can trust implicitly that had ‘a brain’ and just got it.
A parent
Over the 40 year history of the trust, the charity has provided holidays for nearly 1500 children, no matter how complex a child’s needs. The organisation of the holidays and the governance of the Trust is reliant on the hard work of dedicated volunteers who give their time. All monies received are from donations; the Trust receives no government funding.
If you want to find out more and support the trust, click here.
