A long-running children’s holiday charity has officially re-opened this May by welcoming two bus loads of Derby youngsters for a week’s free fun by the sea.
The Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre charity has welcomed 17 children for a free seaside holiday at its base in Skegness during the second May bank holiday week of 2026.
It is the first time the charity has been able to give holidays to children since having to pause operations in 2024 for a major fundraising campaign and strategy.
Charity CEO Janine Holmes said it had been a long time coming but she was delighted to be opening up the much-loved ‘Skeggy home’ once again.
She said: “We have worked very hard in 2025 to raise funds and work out a sustainable new way forward for the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday and I can’t express how pleased I am that we have been able to open up our doors this week and provide holidays for children from two Derby schools who are really going to benefit.
“Trustees, volunteers, fundraisers and so many more have worked very hard to get us to this point – but seeing the children’s excited faces as they joined us to have a week in Skegness made it all worthwhile. And the weather couldn’t have been kinder to us too!”
The Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre has been going since 1891 and provides week-long stays at its centre in Skegness for children who would otherwise not get a break, whether for financial reasons or others such as caring for relatives.
Children are nominated to attend by their school if it is felt they would really benefit from the experience.
After announcing it was having to pause in 2025, a huge fundraising campaign resulted in tens of thousands of pounds raised including by Derby Telegraph readers and many other fundraisers such as participants in the Cosy Bike & Hike.
The first bus loads of children attending the holiday centre for a free break in 2026 come from two Derby schools: Springfield Primary and Borrow Wood – both in Spondon.
Springfield Primary head teacher David Blackwell said: “We’re delighted that some of our pupils are getting this opportunity, we have used holiday clubs and kids’ camps for many years and have seen the really positive impact on pupils, on their enjoyment and their wellbeing.
“It’s just a fantastic thing to be able to give to them and we are very appreciative for everybody who gives them that opportunity. Some of our pupils felt very strongly about the pause in the charity and raised a lot of money for them.”
Among the children attending the holiday centre are triplets Poppy, Toby and Mercy, aged nine, who said they were very excited by the prospect of a week by the sea.
Their mum said: “I’m excited for them! My son went to Skeggy home as well. He enjoyed it.”
Janine added: “I’d like to offer a heartfelt thank you to so many people and Derby Telegraph readers who have done so much to get our charity back on its feet. I’d also like to thank volunteers who have come forward to help us give children a really great week. Our charity exists to put smiles on the faces of children who need a break and we’re very happy to be doing just that.”
For more information, please contact Lucy Stephens on 0771 983 9446, or [email protected]
