Happy Days Children's Charity

Background

The Happy Days Charity is a national children's charity dedicated to providing holidays, days out, and theatre trips for disadvantaged young people with special needs.

The Charity supports families with children aged 3-17 who have learning difficulties, physical or mental disabilities, acute, chronic or life limiting illnesses, been abused or neglected, witnessed domestic violence, been bereaved or act as carers for a parent or a sibling.

Objectives of Fund

The Charity supports families with children aged 3-17 years old with a wide range of additional needs. Funding is available for: family day trips; family holiday breaks; group day trips and visiting the theatre; and group activity holidays.

Value Notes

The minimum or maximum grant levels are not specified.

Match Funding Restrictions

The Charity will also consider applications for partial funding, joint projects with other agencies, and applications for group residential holidays.

Who Can Apply

The Charity accepts applications from parents, guardians, grandparents or siblings, plus from GPs, consultants, nurses or social workers.

Day Trips, Visiting Theatre and Group Activity Holidays

The applicant must represent a group of young people aged 3-17 with additional needs. This includes representatives of a special needs school or special needs group, young carers and women's refuges. Only key carers will be funded and additional adults must be self-funded. A group leader and deputy group leader must be nominated.

Family Holiday Breaks and Family Day Trips

The child or children in need of the holiday (i.e. a two to three night break within the UK) should be between 3 and 17 years old, have special educational needs or have been abused or have a life-limiting condition. Families must also have a household income of £28,500 or under, this includes all benefits received but not PIP/DLA, Child Benefit or carers allowance.

Location

United Kingdom

Restrictions

Funding is not available for accompanying adults who are not key carers.

Taxis or hire vehicle costs for a Family Holiday Break are not eligible for funding.

Eligible Expenditure

Group Day Trips and Visiting Theatre

Applicants may apply for a day trip to a wide variety of destinations, for example, the seaside, a theme park, the theatre, or for a theatre workshop to visit the applicants' premises. Items that can be funded are tickets/passes and transport costs.

Group Activity Holidays

Applicants may apply for a group activity holiday to a wide variety of destinations such as outdoor activity centres, holiday camps and sailing breaks.

Family Day Trips

Eligible trips include zoos, farm parks, theme parks, the seaside or the theatre.

Family Holiday Breaks

Applicants may apply for a short break family holiday by the seaside or in the countryside, usually in the United Kingdom. Other destinations will be considered according to cost.

How To Apply

Applications may be submitted at any time.

Application forms are available to download from the Charity's website.

Contact The Happy Days Children's Charity for further information