Social Services
Social Services Departments will assess disabled people for
services, including holidays, on request. There is very limited
funding for the department to provide holidays but your social
worker will be able to advise and support you in making an
application to one of the trusts or benevolent funds listed. If you
do not have a social worker you can contact the Social Services
Department and ask to speak to the Duty Officer who will be able to
give you further information.
Social & Housing Services
PO Box 3343
Bath BA1 2ZH
Telephone: 01225 477000
Minicom: 01225 477815
Fax: 01225 396128
Combe Down Holiday Trust
Telephone: 01225 837181
The Trust aims to help disabled people and their carers living
in the Bath and North East Somerset area to take holidays, respite
care and recuperation breaks. They also fund breaks for carers
alone. The Trust assist in funding holidays without taking on the
whole cost. You will have to organise all holiday, accommodation
and transport arrangements yourself as The Trust do not provide
recommendations or booking facilities. You must apply for a grant
before you take the holiday and you must have filled out an
application form completely. For more information about these or
other details, you can phone The Assessment Officer for an
appointment.
Combe Down Holiday Trust, Combe Down House, The Avenue, Combe
Down, Bath BA2 5EG
Assessment Officer: Richard Osborne
Supporting Disabled In Need
We are a small charity offering an opportunity to disabled
people (with permanent disabilities or illness) and their
families/carers the chance of a holiday for a well-deserved
break.
Tel: 01225 830288
1 Salisbury Road, Bath BA1 6QX
Family Holiday Association
The Family Holiday Association can make grants to provide a
weeks holiday break for the family together. The family must, in
the association’s opinion, be in real need of a break. As well as
being in receipt of benefits your family should not have had a
holiday together for at least four years. The association works
closely with health and social services that must support your
application form. You are advised to apply as early as possible for
the possibility of a grant for the next year’s holiday as funding
is usually fully committed by November. A Social Worker can contact
the Family Holiday Association for you. If you do not have a social
worker you can contact the Social Services Department and ask to
speak to the Duly Officer.
Housing & Social Services
PO Box 3343
Bath BA1 2ZH
Telephone: 01225 477000
Minicom: 01225 477815
Fax: 01225396128
Handicapped Aid Trust
The Handicapped Aid Trust contributes to the cost of helpers of
severely disabled people over the age of 17 who would otherwise not
be able to go on a holiday abroad. Applications must be supported
by a recognised organisation, a doctor or social worker, and
funding to support holidays being provided by local authorities
will not be considered. For more information, including an
application form, contact the Trust.
Handicapped Aid Trust, 17 Bowlands Place, Lytham St Anne’s,
Lancashire FY8 3QJ
Contact: Mr W Hargraves
Telephone/Fax: 01253 780011
Other sources of Funding
Local branches of national organisations may sometimes consider
providing financial help towards holiday costs, in cases of
hardship. These may include, the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, the
Round Table, and the Salvation Army. You will find the numbers to
these organisations in the Phone Book under the organisation
name.
You may also find that the organisation concerned with your
particular disability may be able to offer financial help towards
holidays. For details of these organisations, refer to the Other
Useful Contacts sectton at the back of this directory or contact
one of the disability advice services listed at the front of the
directory, which will be able to send you a list of local groups.
You can also contact RADAR’s Information department for advice.
In addition to those mentioned, there are a number of other
Trusts and Benevolent Funds who may be able to provide a grant
towards the cost of a holiday. You will find a comprehensive list
of these in RADAR’s Holiday Fact Pack 1 (refer to the Advice
section above). Some of these organisations may require
applications to be made by a social worker or other
professional.
RADAR, 12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London EC1V 8AF
Telephone: 0171 250 3222
Fax: 0171 2500212
Minicom: 0171 2504119
Organised and Supported Holidays
Scouts Holiday Home Trust
The Trust offers low cost self-catering holidays in six berth
caravans at a number of resorts. The holiday season is usually
between Easter and September and any family with a disabled member
is welcome, not only those involved with the Scouting movement. The
caravans are accessible for most disabled visitors and the Trust
are happy to answer queries individual needs.
Scouts Holiday Homes Trust, Baden-Powell House, Queens Gate,
London SW7 5JS
Telephone: 0171 584 7030
Fax: 0171 5905103
Disabled Christian Fellowship
The Disabled Christian fellowship organises a programme of
holidays at accessible centres in England, Northern Ireland and
Scotland. Personal assistance is provided on these holidays.
Disabled Christian Fellowship, 211 Wick Road, Brislington,
Bristol BS4
Telephone/Fax: 01179830388
St Vincent De Paul Society
St Vincent de Paul Society is a religious society who are mainly
involved in visiting isolated people, including disabled people in
their own homes. They can also arrange holidays in Clevedon
and Burnham On Sea. The holiday homes in Clevedon are accessible to
wheelchairs, with ramps and wide doorways, although people without
a power wheelchair are advised to bring assistants. The society can
also provide counselling service. You can contact the Society for
more information.
St Vincent de Paul Society, 14 Brecon Road, Bristol BS9
4DS
Support Helpline: 01179572368
Jumbulance
The Jumbulance group is part of The Across Trust and offers
supported holidays in purpose built ambulances for disabled people
of all ages. They run one holiday a year to Lourdes in the French
Pyrenees and travel with a medical team. The holiday is a combined
pilgrimage and holiday, with a family atmosphere. You can contact
Jumbulance for more information. http://www.jumbulance.org.uk/index.html
Queen Elizabeth Foundation for Disabled People
QE Foundation for the Disabled provides a holiday and
convalescent home for severely disabled people. Help with personal
care is provided by volunteers and registered nurses and a
programme of entertainment and outings is organised for guests. For
further information, contact the Holiday Organiser.
Queen Elizabeth Foundation for Disabled People, Lulworth Court,
25 Chalkwell Esplanade, Westcliffe on Sea, Essex SSO 8JQ
Holiday Organiser: Mrs Pat McCallion
Telephone: 01702 431 725
The 3H's Fund (Help the Handicapped Holiday Fund)
The 3H’s Fund aims to provide group holidays, in Britain and
abroad, for disabled people from the age of 11 upwards who would
not be able to take a holiday otherwise. Holidays organised include
accommodation and transport, and volunteers and experienced staff
provide help and support.
The 3 H’s Fund, 147a Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1
2RA
Telephone: 01892547474
Handihols
Handihols is a holiday scheme where disabled people from
different areas within the U.K. exchange homes or hospitality for
periods of a few days to a week or more. If your house is adapted
every effort will be made to ensure that the house that you are
exchanging with, or visiting, is equally well equipped, although
this cannot be guaranteed. There is a £3 annual registration fee
plus a £3 introduction on charge to cover out of pocket expenses.
For further information contact Handihols.
Handihols, 12 Ormonde Avenue, Rochford, Essex SS4 1 QW
Contact: Rhona Thring
Telephone: 01702 548257
Winged Fellowship (Holidays for Disabled People)
The Winged Fellowship provides holidays for severely disabled
people at five purpose-built or adapted centres in England. They
arrange special interest fortnights based around particular
interests and age groups. Volunteers provide assistance for guests
as required and 24 hour nursing supervision is provided. Guests can
take their own companions, at a reduced rate. Overseas holidays and
lower cost ‘Discovery Holidays’ are also offered.
Discovery Holidays provide a programme of low budget touring
holidays between May and November. A range of accommodation is
used, including self-catering, camping, holiday centres and hotels.
Personal care is available although the service and facilities are
less extensive than at the Winged Fellowship’s own centres.
For more details of any of these holidays, contact Winged
Fellowship.
Winged Fellowship (Holidays for Disabled People), Angel House,
20-32 Pentonville Road London N1 9XD
Telephone: 0171 833 2594
Fax: 0171 2780373
Specialist Holidays
There are many holiday companies that provide specialist
holidays for disabled people including camping, adventure and
actlvity holidays, narrow boating, sailing and cruise holidays and
cultural tours. RADAR’s Holiday Fact Pack 1 (see below) has a
comprehensive selection of this type of holiday and the Directory
for Disabled People also lists a large selection. Central library
stocks a full travel and holiday section in the reference library
which should include holidays for disabled people.
Holiday Advice
The Holiday Care Service
The Holiday Care Service is a Central resource on holiday
information particularly accessibility, for people who are disabled
or who have particular needs. They provide information on
most aspects of taking holidays in Britain and abroad (about 30
different countries).
Holiday Care Service, 2nd Floor, Imperial Buildings, Victoria
Road, Horley, Surrey RH6 7PZ
Telephone: 01293 774535
RADAR Holiday Advice
RADAR has Fact Packs offering guidelines to disabled people
planning to holiday independently. Fact Pack 1 covers travel in the
UK and abroad and includes information on planning and booking a
holiday, hoIiday insurance and financing your holiday. It also
lists organisations involved holidays for disabled people. The
other Fact Packs give information transport and equipment, and
specialised accommodation. There is small charge for these Fact
Packs.
RADAR also publish detailed annual guides to long-haul holidays,
European travel and holidays in the UK including information on
accommodation and facilities. You can order these guides from RADAR
direct. Your local library may also stock, or be able to order,
these books. For more information, or to order any of these
publications, you can contact RADAR
RADAR, 12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London EC1V 8AF
Telephone: 0171 250 3222
Fax: 0171 2500212
Minicom: 0171 2504119
Holidays: Disabled Traveller
This is a free booklet produced in association with the BBC TV
‘Holiday’ programme. It gives general advice on making holiday
arrangements. More specific information for disabled people about
locations featured in the programme is also available. The booklet
is available each January. To obtain a copy, send a large, stamped
addressed envelope to BSS, P0 Box 7, London W3 6XL
Guides and Books
Before you buy any of the books listed here, check whether your
local library stocks them or can order them for you.
The English Tourist Board
The English Tourist Board publishes official guides that each
list particular types of holiday accommodation throughout England,
including details about suitability for disabled people. They can
also give some information about specific enquiries, or refer you
to the right tourist office for your query.
The English Tourist Board, Thames Tower, Blacks Road, London W8
9EL
Telephone: 0181 846 9000
The Automobile Association
The Automobile Association produces a Guide For The Disabled
Traveller that gives information about access and facilities of AA
inspected accommodation in Britain and Ireland. The guide includes
details of facilities for disabled motorists at service stations as
well as information on stately homes, picnic sites, toll bridges
and towns. Travel abroad is also covered, with information about
the Channel tunnel, car ferries, French motorways and some suitable
accommodation In Europe.
The guide is free to AA members, and is available from AA
centres, or by post from the AA Public Policies Department.
The AA, Public Policies Department, Fanum House, Basingstoke,
Hampshire RG21 2EA
English Heritage
English Heritage publish a free annual booklet giving
information on access and facilities for disabled people at English
Heritage sites. The booklet also available in Braille, large print,
and on tape. The booklet can be obtained from many English Heritage
sites or direct from Portica Ltd.
Portica Ltd, Addison Road, Chilton Industrial estate, Sodbury,
Suffolk COl 6YJ
Telephone: 01787 312299
The Country Parks and Access Guide For Disabled People
This guide is produced by RADAR and covers country parks
throughout the country including details about accessibility and
facilities. This available from RADAR by post at a cost of £5.00.
You can also ask your local library if they stock the guide or can
order it for you to borrow.
RADAR, 12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London
EC1V 8AF
Telephone: 0171 250 3222
Fax: 0171 0212
Minicom: 0171 2504119
The National Trust
The National Trust produce a free annual booklet giving
information on the Trust’s most accessible properties. The booklet
is called ‘Information for Visitors with Disabilities’ and is
intended to be read alongside the Handbook for Members and
Visitors, which lists full details of opening times and charges.
The booklet is available in large print and on cassette and can be
obtained by post from the National trust. The booklet is updated
every year and comes out in February/March. Please send a stamped,
addressed envelope. Necessary assistants or companions of disabled
visitors are given free entry to all properties. The Trust also has
several adapted cottages for holiday lets. For further information
contact the Trust’s Adviser of Disabilities.
The National Trust, 36 Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1 H 9AS
Advisor of Disabilities; Mrs Valerie Wenham
Telephone: 0171 222 9251
The Good Retreat Guide
This guide explains the different type of Retreat and gives
information, including brief access details, on over 300 centres in
Britain, Ireland, France and Spain. The guide is available from
bookshops.
The Good Retreat Guide, by Stafford Whiteaker
Published by Random House, 1994
National Gardens Scheme
National Gardens Scheme produce a guide to over 3500 gardens,
with information about access. The guide is called ‘Gardens of
England and Wales’ and is available from booksellers or from the
National Gardens Scheme.
National Gardens Scheme, Hatchlands Park, Clandon, Surrey GU4
7RD
RADAR - The Disability Network
'There and Back'
There and Back 2007/8 is RADAR's new guide for
disabled people, which gives information on non-local travel. It
pays particular attention to the links between the different
methods of transport, whether by air, rail, road or sea.
The aim of There and Back is to highlight transport options that
may now be available to disabled people and help as many people as
possible plan their travel.
Freedom on Wheels
Freedom on Wheels have two specially adapted caravans located at
Par Sands and Monkey Tree Farm near Newquay and these are hired out
at subsidised rates throughout the season.
www.freedomonwheels.org.uk
Hire and sell wheelchairs, electric scooters and other
disability aids.
Offering specialist trips, airport transfers, meet and greet
services with 24hour emergency phone, nursing services and adapted
apartments for sale or rent in Tenerife.
Providing holidays for people with disabilities
Disabled Access Holidays
Disabled Access Holidays provides self catering
holiday accommodation to rent in Puerto Pollensa, Majorca, Balearic
Islands, Spain that has been designed and adapted to meet the needs
of the disabled traveller. Visit our web site:
www.dah-europe.com
Supported Holidays in Spain
BSR Spain supported/accompanied holidays Costa Blanca respite
breaks and holidays a specialised independent service for the
elderly, people with special needs, learning disabilities, or
mental health difficuties. Appartment with wheelchair acces
available.
For full colour brochure
e mail: info@bsrspain.co.uk or
tel 01292 266300 www.bsrspain.co.uk
