Summer means holidays for many of us, and this is no exception for our service users: We incorporate holidays into service users’ care plans wherever possible. And over the years, we have supported some of the guys to take their first ever holiday, their first experience of the seaside, their first cruise or their first flight.

One service user took his first ever holiday to Skegness at the age of 50, and now he keeps going back! He is able to manage his complex behaviours and is supported to stay on a holiday park, which he loves. Others go on trips to Blackpool, Dorset, Norfolk and Essex, staying in various types of accommodation and Butlins is always popular. Our guys enjoy different types of entertainment, trips to the zoo, meals out, fish and chips on the beach, chilling out with an ice cream in the sunshine…

Service user holidays take a lot of planning, so it starts early in the year. We collect holiday brochures and compile online resources, discussing all the options and ideas within each home. Holidays are usually taken in small groups or individually, depending on the wishes of each service user. They also choose which staff members they would like to accompany them on their holiday.

We also support service users to go on holiday with their families, or stay with family members overseas. This summer we are supporting service users to stay with their families in Poland, Serbia and the Channel Islands.

Well-being benefits

Holidays in general are an important escape from our everyday lives, whether it’s a weekend by the sea, a trip to Disneyland or a Mediterranean cruise. They provide a change from the usual routine, opportunities to rest and rejuvenate, as well as to experience new situations, different cultures and try new foods and drinks: Spending time with our families and friends making memories and generally doing things that we would not normally be able to do.

This is the same for our service users.

We support them to try new things, make choices and decide exactly what they want to do, so they can have a truly personalised holiday. Activities are risk-assessed and safe, but it doesn’t mean that they are overly restrictive. Wherever possible and if desired, we enable new experiences and activities, so service users can apply their daily living skills to new situations and increase their independence. They can create new memories (which are often easier to recall than routine activities), have fun and feel good.

Holidays, day trips and new experiences also help with achieving goals and increasing confidence. Some service users prefer to return to familiar places, while others want to go somewhere new. It’s all about balance and personal choice, supporting each individual to live their best life.

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