We are pleased to be giving the class of children who appeared in Channel 4’s Dispatches documentary series ‘Growing Up Poor Hidden Homeless’ the break of a lifetime at our Daleside Centre in Derbyshire this week.
Our teams approached the producers of the documentary series in 2021 after the plight of Britain’s poorest children was highlighted in the hour-long documentary.
Michele Farmer, Go Beyond’s CEO, explained: “There were 4.3 million children living in poverty in the UK before the pandemic. The situation has worsened and with the rising cost of living, sadly, many more families are struggling. This figure is an average that equates to one third of all children, but we know some neighbourhoods have much higher levels of child poverty.
“The challenges faced by these families was highlighted in the 2021 Dispatches documentary which we know shocked and saddened viewers across the country, ourselves included.”
Michele added: “Go Beyond’s mission is to provide children who have been bereaved, abused or bullied, who are living in poverty or caring for loved ones a week to escape the worries and pressures they face daily.
“After seeing the situations the children faced in Channel 4’s documentary we felt it our duty to approach the school and offer the children a week at our Derbyshire centre.”
During their week-long break at Go Beyond the children will take part in a number of activities designed to inspire their confidence and self-belief, so they return home knowing what the world can offer them and what they, in turn, can offer the world.
Hayley Mann, Go Beyond’s Senior Break Leader, explained: “The families of the children coming to us from the school featured in ‘Growing Up Poor Hidden Homeless’ ordinarily face choices such as whether to afford food for the week, pay for a few days of hot water, or get enough fuel to attend a doctor’s appointment.
“But it’s our aim to give each child the moments they need to believe in themselves and think beyond the day-to-day for a bigger, brighter future, at absolutely no cost to them or their families.
“Their week will be packed with new adventures in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside and we’ll supply everything they need to make life-long memories: marshmallows for the campfire, swimming costumes for paddling in rivers, waterproofs and wellies, and a week of healthy meals and snacks.”
This year marks 30 years since we began providing breaks to children and young people from our centres in Derbyshire and the South West.
In total we have provided breaks to more than 18,000 children and for many, memories made at Go Beyond will be the only happy memories from their childhoods.
Amber attended a Go Beyond break as a child and remembers how it felt to have time away from home, be with other children experiencing similar things in their homes and never to feel judged by anyone. She said: “I made so many great friends on my break, other children who just got me. I got to build my own personal independence as a child and just have fun! Which you didn’t always get at home.”
Michele added: “As the summer approaches, millions of children will be looking forward to going on holiday. Airports and travel operators are struggling to cope with the demand as holiday makers make up for the lost two years. Our thoughts though, are with the families who never had a holiday, and now can’t hope to have one.
“A week with us can change that. At no cost to the family, a child can spend a week having fun, in the fresh air, eating good food and making memories that will be theirs forever.
“We look forward to welcoming the children from ‘Growing Up Poor Hidden Homeless’ to us for a week they thoroughly deserve. A week to have fun and make memories that will last a lifetime.”
