Supported Holidays Help Provide Holidays for All

Holidays are a very important part of our lives, they provide us with a welcome break from the routine that we follow for the rest of the year. Holidays allow us to experience different cultures, food and places. We can take our time instead of rushing to meet endless deadlines and not feel guilty about it. And, many of us take the ability to have a holiday for granted.

However, for some sections of our community taking a holiday is not so straight forward. For people with intellectual difficulties or a disability or who are frail, a holiday can be much harder to realise. For these people there are a multitude of difficulties to be overcome before they can truly experience a joyful holiday.

Fortunately there are a growing number of holiday providers which specialise in catering for the needs of those less able. Supported holiday providers ensure all of the needs of their guests are met. Generally supported holidays are all inclusive, that means that all food, drink, excursions and travel are included in the price. This gives great peace of mind to the guest as well as their carers. Additionally, the trained and vetted staff will accompany their guests and work to ensure they have the best possible time. Additional needs are generally taken care off, this may mean help with medication or money management. Most of all it is about helping the guest decide what they want to do on their holiday and help them to get the best of the experience. 

What is important for the best supported holiday providers is that they do not lose sight of the main aspect of a holiday for their guests and that is TO HAVE FUN! Their guests want to do all the things on holiday they don't have the opportunity to do regularly at home; that is, to go out during the day and at night, to enjoy different food, to sleep in, relax, make new friends, see new places and sights and to be pampered. The break from routine and work is as vital and beneficial for people with disabilities and special needs as it is for everyone in our community – it's healthy to have a holiday!