The Kids' Holiday
UK holiday
For the last 13 years Impact UK has organised and run a residential holiday for children who would otherwise go without. The annual holiday is organised from our headquarters in Windermere and is offered to children from the local area, via liaison with local councils and charities.
The holiday is based at a local Scout Camp and the fun packed five days are completely free of charge to the children, who would otherwise go without.
Activities during the week typically include adventures such as swimming, a visit to a wildlife park, canoeing on the lake, getting lost in a maize maze and the highlight of the week - a day at fun fair! For many of the children, it is the first time they have stayed away from home, or even been on holiday at all.
Thailand holiday
Using our knowledge and experience, 2007 saw the first holiday run from our Asia Pacific headquarters in Thailand. The holiday was offered to children from an orphanage whom Impact have worked with as a Community Partner on a number of projects.
The two and a half day were packed with sightseeing, learning opportunities, new experiences and fun and games. The children were asked what their ideas were when they thought about going on holiday and the Impact team set off to put as many smiles on their faces as possible.
Some of the kids had never been to Bangkok and most had never experienced the underground train or the BTS Sky Train but they were all excited to learn how to buy a ticket and enter the turnstiles for their first time.
They also toured a children’s museum, visited an open zoo and aquarium, rode bikes at their beachside accommodation, painted their own t-shirts and devoured big bowls of ice cream! Everyone had a great time.
As with the UK holiday, it was a lot of work and long days but a very rewarding experience for all involved.
Fundraising: Charity Dinner
Whilst Impact donates staff time and resources to run the holidays, the UK holiday would not be possible without the support of local and national organisations to help raise the funds needed to make the event so special and memorable for the children.
Much of the external fundraising for the holiday takes place at our annual Charity Dinner organised by Impact Aid. Funds for the 2008 holiday were raised in October 2007 at a dinner held at the Merewood Country House Hotel. The evening was a total sell out and a brilliant evening. If you are interested in attending the next Charity Dinner in October 2008 please contact us.
Impact would like to express their thanks and appreciation to All Time Shine, Aqua Hair & Beauty, Brackens Florists, Bowness Wedding Photography, Classic Wines, C&G Neaves, Chelsea Football Club, Conniston Corporate, Cornvale Fine Foods, Farrers, Four Seasons Foods, Frank Stainton Wines, Hayes Garden World, Halls of Kendal, Highgate Gym, Hindle Cleaning Services, JR Hairdressing, Lakeland Limited, Lakeland Speciality Foods, Langdale Country Club, Lorna Johnson, Lucy Cooks, MacDonald Old England Hotel, Marcus Keith – Wedding Singer, Matt Hayes, Merewood Country House Hotel, Mint Beauty, Style Trading, Sony, The Glass House Restaurant, Umbro, Valerie Anns Florists, Watermark Fisheries and everyone who has contributed to our fundraising.
