Factsheets - Holidays for Disabled People
The information in this user guide is for guidance only. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that information is accurate and up to date, it should not be treated as an authoritative or complete statement of the law. DIAL UK does not accept liability for the consequences of any misinterpretations, errors or omissions.
1. Introduction
2. Financial Help
2.1 Grants
2.2 Local Authority
3. Holiday Providers
4.
Outdoor Activity Centres for Disabled People
5.
Charities providing holiday information
6.
Organisations Providing Carers for Holidays
7. Going Abroad
7.1
Choosing travel agents or tour operators
7.2 Visas
7.3 Insurance
8. Useful Publications
1. Introduction
Lots of organisations provide holiday information for disabled people. Local Dials may also collect their own information about holidays, you can find your nearest dial in the Find-a-Dial section of the website www.dialuk.org.uk. This guide is a starting point for you to find information about holidays. It suggests places to get information about holidays and where you may be able to get help to go on holiday.
2. Financial Help
2.1 Grants
There are a number of national charities who may give grants towards holidays. These grants may depend on your former occupation for example if you have worked in the Civil Service, or it could be that you have served in the Armed Forces at some time, sometimes grants are given to people depending on the area you live in.
An information sheet naming charities, which have helped with holidays for people in the past, can be obtained from the organisation Holiday Care; their address can be found in the section ‘Charities providing holiday information’.
2.2 Local Authority
Local authorities may be able to assist disabled people with holidays in certain circumstances. If you have an illness or a disability it may be worth contacting your local authority to see whether they can provide you with help to have a holiday. You can find the number of your local authority in the telephone book.
3. Holiday Providers
There are lots of organisations that specialise in providing holidays and activities for disabled people. These include:
Disabled Living
Disabled Living organise group holidays and outings throughout the year, for people with physical disabilities, their families and friends. They provide door-to-door transport wherever possible, this is usually by way of volunteer drivers or taxi sharing, but all transport has to be paid for by the person making the request. They also give information and advice on accessible holidays, leisure pursuits and activities, restaurants, theatres, pubs and transport.
Address: Redbank House, 4 Chad’s Street, Cheetham, Manchester, M8 8QA Tel: 0161 214 5960. Web: www.disabledliving.co.uk
3H FUND
Provides holidays in the UK and abroad for people with physical disabilities of all ages. Full care is provided with volunteer helpers, a leader and a nurse for each holiday.
Address: 147A Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2RA
Tel: 01891 547 474. Web: www.3hfund.org.uk
Chalfont Line Holidays
Provides a range of holidays in the UK and abroad. All holidays are can be booked with three levels of care depending on the individuals needs.
A specially adapted coach is provided for UK and European travel with a side lift, clamped wheelchair spaces, an induction loop system and video screens to relay signing.
All accommodation is selected with access in mind using ordinary hotels rather than those described as for people with disabilities.
Transport can be arranged from home or a London railway station to the point of departure.
Address: Chalfont Road, 4 Providence House, West Drayton, Greater London UB7 8HJ. Tel: 01895 459 540.
Disaway Trust
Provides group holidays for people with physical disabilities between the age of 16-80 years in the UK and abroad. The individual pays for the holiday, this includes travel, accommodation, insurance and excursions. Helpers are requested to pay half the total cost, the trust pays the remaining 50%.
Address: 55, Tolworth Park Road, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 7RJ.
Tel: 020 8390 2576. Web: www.hants.gov.uk
John Grooms Holidays
Offers a variety of holidays around the UK using specially chosen accommodation that is wheelchair accessible.
Provides personal care staff in some locations, if required, to meet care needs. Provides other services for physically disabled people such as residential and community care, housing, training programmes for independent living, respite care, and overseas involvement.
Address: P.O Box 36, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, CF71 7GB
Tel: 08456 584 478.
Youth Hostels Association
The Youth Hostels Association is the umbrella organisation for youth hostels in England and Wales. They network with youth hostels that provide facilities for disabled people and provide information on all youth hostels that have facilities for disabled people and have been inspected and passed as suitable.
Address: Youth Hostel Association, Dimple Road, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3YH. Tel: 01629 592600.
4. Outdoor Activity Centres for Disabled People
Calvert Trust Exmoor
Activity holiday centre, caters for people with physical, sensory and mental
disabilities. Activities include: archery, camping, orienteering, climbing,
sailing, canoeing, riding, swimming, hill-walking and
trap-driving. Holidays are offered on a fully catered or self-catering basis,
for individuals, families and groups. Courses and conferences can also be
arranged.
Address: Wistlandpound, Kenisbury, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4SJ
Tel: 01598 763 221
Calvert Trust Keswick
Outdoor activity centre specialises in holidays and courses for people of all ages with physical, sensory and learning disabilities. Activities include: abseiling, archery, camping, orienteering, mountain biking, climbing, sailing, canoeing, riding, swimming, windsurfing, hill-walking and trap-driving. There is also a swimming pool and sports hall with indoor climbing wall on site. Holidays are offered for individuals, families and groups and there are courses for specialist activities such as paragliding and white water rafting. Team building and rehabilitation courses are also offered.
Address: Little Crossthwaite, Under Skiddaw, Keswick, CA12 4QD
Tel: 017687 722 54
Calvert Trust Kielder Water
Activity holiday centre caters for people with physical, sensory and learning
disabilities. Activities include: archery, orienteering, climbing, sailing,
canoeing, swimming, abseiling, zipwire, kayaking and nature trail. Holidays
are offered for individuals, families and groups.
A respite care service is available on request, for adults aged 18 years and
over.
Address: Kielder Water, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 1BS
Tel: 01434 250232.
Speyside Trust
The Speyside Trust runs the Badaguish Outdoor Centre providing 24 hour respite care activity holidays for unaccompanied individuals. It offers a wide range of outdoor activities including rowing, fishing, sailing and pony trekking.
Applications are welcome from people with all degrees of disability. The usual group size is around 10 - 15 people, of whom 4 - 5 will be helpers. Individual tastes are catered for and will vary according to the time of year.
Visits to local tourist facilities will be included. All visitors will be involved in daily tasks and meal preparation.
Address: Bagaduish Centre, Aviemore, Highland, PH22 1QU
Tel: 01479 861 285.
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre
Located in the heart of South Hampshire in the Manor Farm Country Park, which boasts 400 acres of woodland and farm land, the centre has been providing activity opportunities since 1978: Activities include, day visits for local special schools, day centres, etc. Residential/ holiday accommodation for groups and families, providing activities such as canoeing, horse riding, climbing, archery, ropes course, motorboats and environmental work.
Manor Farm Country Park, Pylands Lane, Burlsedon, Hampshire, SO31 1BH. Tel: 023 8040 4844.
5. Charities providing holiday information
Lots of charities provide information about holidays. Some of them have their own holiday homes, hotels or can organise holidays for special groups they may also have discounted holidays. You may have to be a member of the organisations to take advantage of their services.
These include:
Arthritis Care, 18 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2HD.
Tel: 020 7380 6500. Web: www.arthritiscare.org.uk
Disabled Drivers’ Association, National Headquarters, Ashwellthorpe,
Norwich, Norfolk, NR16 1EX.
Tel: 0870 770 3333. Web: www.dda.org.uk
Vitalise, 12 City Forum, 250 City Rd, London, EC1V 8AF. Tel: 0845 345 1972, Web: www.vitalise.org.uk
Parkinsons Disease Society, 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 1EJ. Tel: 020 7931 8080. Web: www.parkinsons.org.uk
Royal National Institute for the Blind, 105 Judd Street, London, WC1H 9NE. Tel: 0845 766 9999. Web: www.rnib.org.uk
Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS National Centre, 372 Edgware Road, London.
NW2 6ND. Tel: 020 8438 0700.
Web: www.mssociety.org.uk
MIND, Grant House, 15 – 19 Broadway, Stratford, London, E15 4BQ.
Tel: 020 8519 2122. Web: www.mind.org.uk
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading,
Berkshire, RG7 3YG.
Tel: 0118 983 5555 Web: www.gdba.org.uk
Holiday Care, Holiday Care Information Unit, 7th Floor, Sunley House, 4 Bedford
Park, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 2AP.
Tel: 0845 1249 971. Web: www.holidaycare.org.uk
RADAR, 12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London, EC1V 8AF.
Tel: 020 7250 3222. Web: www.radar.org.uk
Spinal Injuries Association, 76 St James Lane, Muswell Lane, London, N10 3DF. Tel: 0800 980 0501. Web: www.spinal.co.uk
Tripscope, The Vassal Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ, Tel: 08457 5856 41. Web: www.tripscope.org.uk
6. Organisations Providing Carers for Holidays
The following organisations may be able to provide nurses or carers to travel on holiday either in the UK or abroad.
The British Nursing Association, The Colonnade, Beaconsfield Close, Hatfield,
Hertfordshire, AL10 8YD. Tel: 017072 63544.
Web: www.bna.co.uk
Anchor Care Alternatives, Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 1JB. Tel: 020 652 1900.
7. Going Abroad
7.1 Choosing travel agents or tour operators
You should be advised to choose operators that are members of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). Their booking conditions will meet the ABTA’s code of conduct. Also, if the company runs into financial difficulties ABTA can help to get the money back. They also run an arbitration scheme to deal with complaints about their members.
Address: Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), 68-71 Newman Street, London W1T 4AH. Tel: 020 7637 2444.
7.2 Visas
You may require a visa to visit some countries, you should check with the tour operator or embassy before travelling.
7.3 Insurance
It is important for you take out holiday insurance at the time the holiday is booked, this should cover you in the event of cancellation. Travel agents and tour operators can no longer force travellers to buy their own travel insurance when booking discount holidays; substantial savings can be made by shopping around to various insurance providers.
Although insurance companies mustn’t discriminate against anyone on the grounds of disability, there is usually a clause stating that claims for existing health problems will not be met.
A free leaflet about holiday insurance is available from the Association of British Insurers.
Address: Association of British Insurers, 51 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7HQ. Tel: 020 7600 3333. Also available on the website www.abi.org.uk
8. Useful Publications
The following publications include useful information about holidays for disabled people.
Access Holiday Guide
A directory of accessible accommodation, services and attractions throughout the UK. The guide is designed for those wheelchair users with no other mobility methods, therefore requiring good access generally combined with suitable adapted personal facilities. The majority of entries list telephone contacts only, whilst others list a description, contact details and accessibility coding.
Available from: Access Holiday Guide, 7 Roundberry Drive, Salcombe, Devon, TQ8 8LX. Tel: 01548 843 551.
Can Be Done Holidays
Can Be Done Holidays provide details about accessible holidays for wheelchair users, or holidaymakers wanting a tour at a more leisurely pace. It gives details of tour itineraries and the vehicles used for the tours, which are fully adapted for wheelchairs.
Also gives details of holidays throughout the UK, to places such as Bristol, Yorkshire and London and self-drive holidays in the UK and Ireland. Also includes various overseas destinations such as France, Italy, Spain, Canada and the USA.
Available from: Can Be Done Ltd, 11 Woodcock Hill, Harrow, London, HA3 0XP. Tel: 020 8907 2400.
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Holidays Brochure
This brochure lists the holidays that Guide Dogs for the Blind are running. Brochures are issued for the Summer/Autumn and Winter/Spring seasons of the following year. Holiday locations are both UK and abroad.
The five holiday categories include, sun, sightseeing/touring, interest/education, activity, adventure travel. A grading system, A, B, C, D, also operates within each category, there is also advice on mobility or expertise requirements for certain holidays, and there is also guidance notes at the start of each holiday category to assist with your selection. An Information Sheet is available for all holidays. Brochures are available in large print, Braille or Audio Cassette.
Available from: Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Hillfields, Burghfield
Common, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 3YG.
Tel: 0118 983 5555 Web: www.gdba.org.uk
RADAR Holiday Information Fact-packs
Radar produces a set of three booklets about holidays. The booklets include information about holiday accommodation with nursing assistance, arranging and booking holidays in the UK and abroad for disabled people. They also cover, planning and booking holiday, holiday insurance, holiday finance etc.
Available from: RADAR, 12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London, EC1V 8AF. Tel: 020 7250 3222. Web: www.radar.org.uk.
Holiday Ideas for People who are Blind or Partially Sighted
National Charity Holiday Care has developed an audio-cassette version of their newly updated information sheet for blind and partially sighted travellers. The cassette runs for approximately one hour, and was created as an alternative to the large print information sheet featuring various holiday ideas. Special Interest Holidays, such as multi-activity centres, walking holidays and courses in birdsong are featured, as well as Specialist Accommodation and overseas holidays in Italy and South Africa.
Contacts, publications and organisations that arrange holidays are also mentioned on the tape
Available from: Holiday Care Information Unit, 7th Floor, 4 Bedford Park,
Sunley House, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 2AP.
Tel: 0845 1249 971. Web: www.holidaycare.org.uk.
Holidays in Britain & Ireland 2003 - A Guide for Disabled People
RADAR`s guide to holidays in Britain and Ireland has been issued for over 20 years. The current edition includes detailed information on over 1400 places to stay in all parts of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. These include hotels, guesthouses, self-catering cottages and flats, holiday parks, activity centres, camp-sites and centres where specialist service and care are provided. The guide also gives information on advice services, voluntary and commercial organisations and transport. The guide aims to give information that will be useful to people with as wide a range of disabilities as possible. Choosing holiday accommodation will be made easier by individual listings stating, amongst other details, the size of entrance doors, ground floor bedrooms, lifts, whether there are specially designed bathroom facilities, and if waterproof or feather-free bedding is available.
Available from: RADAR, 12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London, EC1V 8AF. Tel: 020 7250 3222. Web: www.radar.org.uk. Also available on line, Web: www.radarsearch.org.uk/welcome.asp
Flying High: A Practical Guide to Air Travel
The Disabled Living Foundation publishes this guide which includes journey planning, airport procedures, in-flight meals, personal toilet on board, arriving at the destination and disembarking and using and storing equipment. The guide also lists sources of information, suppliers’ addresses, recommended reading and major UK airport addresses and phone numbers.
Available from: Disabled Living Foundation, 380 – 384 Harrow Road,
London, Tel: 0845 130 9177. Web: www.dlf.org.uk
