How We Do It : The Principle Trust Children's Charity

How do we make a difference?

The children and families we help are usually referred to us by our local Partners from our local community. So we know we are directly helping children and families most in need.

We currently have three respite homes located at the 4 star Marton Mere Holiday Park in Blackpool. Two of our homes have wheelchair and ramp access. All of our Blackpool holiday homes can accommodate up to 6 people. Onsite there is a full programme of activities and complimentary travel to the Blackpool beach for the guests to enjoy, so that families don’t have to worry about further travel or expense. Every year we are able to offer approximately 100 families a completely free, week long respite break.

We also have our Log Cabin at the peaceful Ribblesdale Park, Gisburn. This has been fully adapted for wheelchair use and has a mobile hoist to ensure everyone can enjoy the Hot Tub. We have also installed a profiling bed too. Ribblesdale Park is a tranquil place, abundant with wildlife; watch the rare Sika deer herd grazing, spot a Kingfisher or Otter by the river. There is a heated outdoor swimming pool in walled gardens and they have just won a diamond award from Hoseasons for the best park in the North of England. It really is a place for respite.

We hope to improve the health and wellbeing of each child and family compared to how they felt before their break. Each situation before their break is different but the impact it has is always positive, particularly having a new opportunity to spend quality time with each other and take away the strain and stress of everyday life.

In the 8 years since The Trust was founded, we have given over 1,500 children and 700 families a break.

Families we’ve helped

We often receive letters of thanks from families we’ve helped and the partners we work with. It is these letters that make what we do worthwhile. This is just a selection of some of the comments we have received.

“The families that have been fortunate to access your holiday homes are from a cross section of the valley and have all said what a wonderful time they had.

In some cases it will be the only holiday the children have had or will have in their young lives. The impact of this can not be measured but the memories will stay with them for a long time.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again on their behalf for your generosity and look forward to continuing our relationship in the future not only in providing holidays for our families but the partnership between yourself and Oakbank.”

“The children you have supported with holidays will have some great memories – and it has also given parents the confidence to think about providing more experiences like these for their children – this clearly demonstrates that it is not always finances which impact on a family’s ability to cope – there are other factors too. The work both Home-Start and the Principle Trust are undertaking is helping parents and children to enjoy family life.”

“Wow what a wonderful week we had at your log cabin. It may just be 15 minutes away from home but it’s just what I needed.

I look after my grandsons full time, one is autistic and in heart failure and will shortly be listed for transplant. The little one has had a tracheotomy, pacemaker, is tube fed and on a night is ventilated on a life support machine. Their Mummy has been diabetic since 8 and last week collapsed with Clots in her lungs and heart.

I was exhausted and truly needed a few days to recharge. The boys have been here on and off but go home at night due to nurses coming in to care for George and it enables my daughter to get sleep. You don’t know what this break has meant to me and not just me but my children too.

I’ve attached a few pictures of our stay which honestly has recharged my batteries.”

Nicola Garbutt, Skipton

How the money is spent

Every single penny we raise goes towards giving a child a respite break.

Each holiday home in Blackpool costs approx. £11,000 per year to run and our Log Cabin costs approx. £6,000 per year. That’s a whopping £39,000 a year to run our four holiday homes!

This includes the upkeep, ground rent, insurance, utilities and additional services, such as cleaning. This is what we need to raise every year, just to keep the charity going…