The Happy Days Children’s 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. The principal objectives of the Charity are:

 1. To help and educate young persons, through their leisure-time and holiday activities, so as to develop their physical, mental and spiritual capabilities that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and that their conditions of life may be improved, and
 2. To advance the education of young people by the provision of facilities for holidays.

The Charity’s main activities are to provide:

(a) Respite break family holidays of a 2-4 night duration for children with special needs (i.e. children who are sick, disabled, abused, neglected and/or are disadvantaged by poverty, and children who have a life limiting condition) to a variety of destinations both in the UK. and
(b) Day trips to theme parks, theatres, zoos and other attractions for groups of special needs children throughout the UK.

Children can be nominated in several ways, principally:

o Through Social Services.
o From schools/centres for children with special needs.
o From doctors, nurses and health visitors.
o From parents and/or guardians.
o Support groups.
o Women's Refuge Centres, and/or
o Other Charitable organisations.

Grants are available for the following activities:

1. Group Day Trips and Visiting Theatre - 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.
2. Group Activity Holidays - a group activity holiday to a wide variety of destinations such as outdoor activity centres, holiday camps and sailing breaks.
3. Family Day Trips - eligible trips include zoos, farm parks, theme parks, the seaside or the theatre, and
4. Family Holiday Breaks - 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.

Further information, guidance and an application form is available on the Charity’s website.

Applications may be made at any time.