Leaders of the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre have announced the long-running charity in Skegness will open its doors in 2026 after a successful year of fundraising.
The charity paused its holidays this year due to rising costs and embarked on a big fundraising campaign in order to re-open in 2026.
Thanks to incredible efforts from many fundraisers over many months, the charity’s Comeback Appeal target of £150,000 has been met and joyful leaders are preparing to welcome children back next year.
Janine Holmes, the charity’s CEO, said: “We are so proud and grateful to announce that thanks to amazing support from many fundraisers in Skegness and in Derbyshire, we will be able to open our centre once again in 2026.
“We have been blown away by the support we have received and what has been particularly wonderful has been the number of people who have sent us donations having visited the centre themselves in the past.
“We would like to thank everyone who has supported us so much in 2025 – it’s thanks to you that we can make hundreds of children very happy again next year and give them a brilliant week’s holiday by the seaside.”
Centre manager Ali Byerley said: “It’s wonderful that the centre is re-opening – absolutely fantastic. I’d particularly like to thank people from The Lumley pub in Skegness as well as The Courthouse and The Ship who have been great, and also the general public who often turn up at the door with donations.”
The holiday centre has been going since 1891 and provides seaside stays to Derbyshire children who may otherwise not get a break, whether for financial reasons or others, such as caring for relatives.
The 2025 fundraising year has seen £150,064 raised. Participants in the Cosy Bike & Hike raised a significant amount, while other fundraisers included 10-year-old Corey Dobson of Spondon who visited the centre in the past and raised more than £2,000 through bake sales and walking 100 miles during a month.
One teacher pedalled all the way from Land’s End to John O’Groats while two friends walked from Derby to Blackpool and also raised thousands.
A mystery donor has also come forward to pay for a new roof for the centre.
As well as fundraising, charity leaders have also come up with a new, more sustainable strategy for running the centre in future years.
Children will enjoy holidays at the centre during half terms and the summer holidays with up to 34 staying each week.
The charity is also planning to open up weekend lettings for guides and scouts groups as well as low-cost residential stays for schools when it is not otherwise in use.
Janine said: “Although we are delighted to be re-opening, our work as fundraisers definitely does not stop. While we will definitely re-open, we still need to raise £27,000 for next year’s holidays and there are other projects that we’d love to provide like our free Grand Days Out trips, so please don’t stop your donations!”
Anyone who wants to continue to support the charity to ensure its long-term future can set up a monthly donation:
- £32 a month will pay for one child’s holiday for a year
- £15 a month will help cover meals, transport and activities
- £5 a month could help provide special seaside extras like ice creams and rides.
For more information, please contact Lucy Stephens at Penguin PR on [email protected] or call 0771 983 9446.
