Friends of Holcot
Community Outreach School Holiday Project
Funding helps gives local disadvantaged families free memorable days out.
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About Friends of Holcot Community Outreach Project
Friends of Holcot provides free memorable days out for local disadvantaged families. Destinations reflect the ages and needs of the families they support including; trips to the zoo, theme parks, castles, stately homes, seaside and theatre shows. Many children (and adults) they support have never visited the seaside or enjoyed the fun of a Christmas Pantomime.
Edenbridge is a small town with minimal employment opportunities locally and limited transport links. All the families they support are ‘income poor’ – the majority are single adult households where unemployment, bereavement and mental ill-health are contributing factors and debt a frequent issue. Families are supported by social services, the local children’s centre and many, receive regular food parcels. Several of the families have four or more children or include a disabled child, whilst others are subject to residential care orders for reasons such as parents in prison, addicted to alcohol/drugs, abandonment etc.
Results from the funding
Friends of Holcot give these disadvantaged families experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. The memorable days out give the children something to look forward to and to talk about on return. They receive reports that children return to school animated, excited and with a willingness to engage with others. They see increased self-esteem and feelings of being equal to their peers.
