THE DIFFERENCE WE MADE IN 2019 The Family Holiday Association is the leading national charity dedicated to providing breaks and days out for children and their families coping with some of the toughest challenges life can bring. 4,821 % Families received a 34 % short break or day out had a break 98 together for the had fun and first time created happy memories 7,836 10,641 % Adults Children 45 of children who We helped went to the beach did so for the families in 88% first time of local authority areas across the UK What families tell us As a result of our work this year families told us that the breaks made the following differences: % % % % 92 90 92 86 were able to got on better had reduced had more cope better as a family stress and worries confidence 91% 94% 98% 97% were more spent more time had fun and of children optimistic about together as a created happy had new the future family memories experiences It was fantastic, amazing, I never thought about cancer once. This was a final family holiday for us and it was wonderful, it has created lasting memories and photographs for us as a family and for my husband and my children when my time comes. Seeing that I could cope with new The children enjoyed themselves so situations and have fun boosted my much, they loved the freedom of confidence. We had had a difficult year swimming and engaging in all the prior to the break and having this time activities. It warmed my heart to see how away together felt like the start of a new happy they were. We are all much closer chapter. Thank you ever so much. as a family. This break meant the world to me and Staying at such a nice hotel where the the children. They have had such a staff were so good to my boys was very traumatic short life filled with upheaval relaxing for us all. The transport museum and I have worked so hard over the past and having the bus ticket was brilliant as we year to provide a stable and loving home. could see the sights and do something the The children have learned to play so well boys have only ever seen from the pavement together without so much arguing. Thank in Edinburgh. Thank you for making this you from the bottom of my heart. possible we are really grateful. Family Story: A day trip to Edinburgh As well as providing short breaks, we work with a range of partners to provide days out for families across the UK. Here is one family’s story of a day out through the ScotSpirit Breaks programme in partnership with VisitScotland. Life was just about doing the usual, everyday things, like going across the road to the park, nothing exciting. I never took trips with my son, and we’d never been away together anywhere. Alexander loves buses, so sometimes we’d pack a lunch and take the number 8 bus and stay on for the whole route till we got back home. When I found out about the trip to Edinburgh Castle I was a bit nervous but I wanted to do it for Alexander. His excitement about going away somewhere with his pals rubbed off on me, I felt excited for him. There were a lot of tourists at the castle that day, and it was really windy. Alexander loved it, especially the 1 o’clock gun going off. I remember seeing his face as he listened to the different languages the people round about him were speaking – that was a totally new experience for him. We were so tired at the end of the day, but it was a good tired, because you felt you’d done something with your Alexander told all his classmates about it, which was day, and enjoyed it – not the kind of tired where you’re quite something for him, as he’s normally so shy. It’s stressed out all the time. It was a brilliant day out for been good to sit and talk about it with him – he still him and me. remembers the trip, and asks me when we can go again. Knowing what’s out there has Knowing what’s out there, what Alex enjoys, it has changed our future - we’ve got changed the way we think about the future – we’ve got much bigger dreams than the park across the road! much bigger dreams than the park I’m definitely more likely to take my son on a break across the road! somewhere after going on the day trip to Edinburgh – I could maybe go and visit my sister in Dunfermline. I’d I did feel a bit more confident after the trip, just knowing tell other families thinking about a ScotSpirit Break to that I could do it, that I could jump on a train with just do it – it’s amazing what stuff like this can do for Alexander and go somewhere like that, it was satisfying your confidence. thinking that. I remember my sister phoned afterwards to hear about it, and I think she was expecting bad news, This case study is part of a series of family stories created so it was really good to be able to tell her it was all great as a legacy of the Year of Young People (Scotland) – there was really nothing negative to tell her. The children haven’t stopped talking about the memories we made and the adventures we went on during the holiday. Also the children are more aware of wildlife, their surroundings and the environment. The families we help We help families on a low income who haven’t had a holiday for years. Many are struggling with some of the toughest challenges life can bring. ISSUES AFFECTING WHERE THE FAMILIES FAMILIES WE HELP LIVE We helped families in 88% of local authority areas (190 out of 217). Listed below are the areas where we helped most 59% families in 2019 and the number of families we helped. have mental health issues 42% Westminster - 114 are isolated Gateshead - 115 29% Cornwall - 115 have experienced domestic violence Hertfordshire - 123 25% Kent - 191 have physical health issues Edinburgh- 217 19% live in inadequate housing Barnsley - 226 Birmingham - 268 18% are young carers Sheffield - 340 14% Glasgow - 340 are coping with bereavement I have seen When we arrived my children at the caravan and grow to be more saw how luxurious confident and it was we could they had a imagine ourselves brilliant time. there for a week and really get excited. Long term impact The feedback we get from families when they have just returned from their break is overwhelmingly positive with 90%+ of families reporting that they get on better, spend more time together and have reduced stress and worries when they come home. This year, thanks to our new online platform, we were able to ask the longer term impact of a break for families who went away in 2018. Mental Health 83% of families who experience mental health issues said that they still notice a positive difference up to a year later. The break away from home seems to provide a break from the stresses of daily life and a new perspective on how to cope better once back home. Many reported that improved parental mental health impacted positively on their children, with parents being less anxious and stressed and able to do more as a family. Spending time together as a family on the break helped strengthen families when they came back home. Some were more able to access support for their mental health issues with others better able to look to the future. “After this break I am giving more time to my family and I have a better control (over) my anxiety and depression than before.” “My daughter especially has had an improvement in her mental health.…and feels more optimistic about her future.” “My children don’t witness me being upset so much. I had the chance to think about my behaviour too in the relationship with their dad.” “I am no longer on medication – I have strategies I use to manage my emotions and worries.” “Mum’s mental health has improved and this is without any input from mental health services. Mum seems more positive. When she feels low she asks for support and this hasn’t impacted upon her parenting.” (referrer) How are things now compared to before the break? (n=87) 1% 6% A lot better 9% 24% A bit better No different A bit worse Not sure 59% I have gained confidence and am now applying for jobs and considering applying to college. Isolation Around 60% of the families we help each year are isolated. After their break, 84% of families reported an improvement. Many families saw significant change around how they engage with their communities and the outside world in general. The confidence boost that a break brings seems to be a real catalyst for change that leads to a range of improvements in different areas. Families report getting out of the house more and being able to do more as a family, including travel. Some report being more able to make social connections and engaging better with schools. Others felt that they could access services that they didn’t feel able to before. “I have joined a gym and went to a series of talks about domestic violence which I had always backed away from doing before as was worried about who would be there.” “(It) made me have more confidence in myself, knowing I was able to travel and go out.” “It has made a big difference to me getting out and about and feeling confident.” “Being on holiday made me realise how I had been isolated and made me think about how I would change this when I got home.