A much-loved children’s holiday charity is urging Derbyshire businesses to consider supporting them so that more in-need youngsters can get a longed-for holiday in 2022.
Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, which this year celebrated its 130th anniversary, has had to make the difficult decision not to open its doors to young people this year.
Now its trustees are urging local companies to lend their support so that they can open up again to the maximum numbers of young people during the 2022 season.
The charity, which has a specialist holiday centre in Skegness, gives 660 residential holidays a year to children from Derby and Derbyshire who would otherwise not have one.
DCHC, Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre in plea for help with funding so that they can take children to the seaside in 2022.
Nominated children come from homes where the impact of financial hardship, deprivation or abuse has created a situation where stress is common and there are few comforts.
This is the second year running that children have not been able to enjoy a week by the seaside, due to the restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now trustees from the charity are re-doubling their efforts to secure enough funding so that as many children as possible can benefit from a week’s fun in the sand next year. Any shortfall could mean the charity may have to reduce the numbers who can enjoy the centre.
DCHC chairman Alan Grimadell said: “The coronavirus pandemic has meant that many people have had to put their holiday plans on hold. But for the children who come to our centre, a holiday means so much more.
“It is a break from what is in many cases a highly stressful home-life. Like all charities, our fundraising has taken a hit due to the pandemic, so today we are simply urging local companies and individuals to consider offering us their support. Just a small amount of funding will mean such a lot to the young people who rely on our service from some much-needed rest and relaxation.
“Anyone who would like to support us so we can carry on offering our service for many more years to come should get in touch.”
Centre manager Ali Byerley said she and her staff were missing seeing children who would normally be paying them a visit.
She said: “I hope people support us because we have been going now for 130 years. It’s a long time and we are still in need. Our waiting list can be vast, although it’s fairly diabolical that after all these years the need is a great as ever.
“We are hugely saddened that we can’t open our doors to children for the second year running, but with support from people and businesses in Derbyshire we hope to be able to welcome more children next year.”
DCHC is putting on a number of fundraising events in 2021, such as a film screening of the latest James Bond film at Quad in Derby; a family steam train trip and a ‘One in a Million’ campaign which centres around the fact that if one per cent of Derbyshire’s one million residents were to donate four pounds a month, that would raise £40,000 a year for the charity.
Now DCHC is planning to recruit some professional fundraisers and is urging companies to consider offering corporate support, as well as individuals who may wish to provide a donation to the charity in their will.
For more detail on the charity and its work, see https://www.dchc.org.uk/
With a prestigious Queen’s Award for Volunteers, the holiday centre is expertly run to provide children with a relaxing week free from the pressures of their lives, which may include elements such as caring for relatives.
To donate as part of the ‘One in a Million’ scheme, text DCHCMILLION to 70085 to pledge £4 a month. Alternatively, visit the charity’s Just Giving page on https://www.justgiving.com/DCHC to give a different amount.
ENDS
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