Carer and Bereavement holidays

Long time carers often assume that new carers know about Carer and Bereavement holidays, but actually many carers don’t know about them. The holidays I am talking about are generally free UK breaks that a number of charities offer to families caring for children with disabilities or families who have experienced child loss. Our family have benefitted greatly from a number of charities who provide UK breaks to these struggling families. The caravans and accommodation are usually accessible for families with disabilities, and they are actually accessible.

I know accessibility may be simple to carers, but not so to the rest of the world. I remember privately booking a holiday one summer in North Wales at a caravan park who insisted that our accommodation was accessible. I called the park and explained our family’s needs and before taking the 4 hour drive it was confirmed that the place was suitable.

On arrival we found that the door into the accommodation did not open wide enough for my daughter’s wheelchair and had one of the biggest steps/lips into a sliding door that I had ever seen. The first couple of hours of our trip were spent complaining, eventually we were moved to a more suitable accommodation.

I was amazed that the staff still insisted that the previous accommodation was accessible because it was ground floor.

It is wonderful when charities can offer a suitable break for families saving them the cost of a holiday which would seem unaffordable otherwise. I would say that it is even more wonderful to have a charity who knows what accessibility really looks like as the charities are often set up by parents and people who have experienced caring for a person with disabilities themselves.

I always aim to take my family away on special days and anniversaries relating to my daughter. This not only gives us precious time together as a family but also gives us all a chance to process our own emotions.

People often seek to come and see us on important dates otherwise. We know they come from a place of caring and showing love – equally it would be odd for them to avoid us, however people will always come with their own emotional baggage. Sometimes the chance to get away with your own emotions on the most difficult days is invaluable.

If you are a carer, advocate or suffered child loss, then look out for these charities or ask for a referral from someone in your healthcare team as they usually know which charities provide this support. If you are a charity that provides this support and any support to carers and advocates, thank you for your help and those who helped this tired broke Dad and his family.