2025 will be remembered for the long hot summer that changed our landscape, with fields dried out but days we could rely on to be sunny from morning until night. For us at Go Beyond it meant more time outdoors than ever, playing games together, sharing endless picnics and gathering around campfires as the sun went down.
Our Ice Cream Moments campaign, fronted by comedian James Acaster, was a huge success and brought many new supporters into our community.
As summer turned into autumn, we were thrilled to be asked by HRH Princess Catherine to bring children from Go Beyond to take part in her Mother Nature film, crunching through falling leaves and cooking over an open fire.
When winter arrived the sunshine and ice creams were replaced by Christmas celebrations and the comfort of warm soups and roast dinners. We went to the pantomime and ice skating, wrapped up warm to play outside, then returned to mugs of hot chocolate and games with new friends.
These are the special moments we share with every child, giving them memories they will treasure forever. This year 1100 children enjoyed a Go Beyond break. Over 140 volunteers joined in the fun too, many of them young people completing their Duke of Edinburgh awards.
Behind the scenes, we have been building our capacity so we can welcome even more children next year. Renovations to our farmhouse in Cornwall have given us extra bedrooms, and additional beds at Daleside mean more spaces for young people to stay. We are also incredibly excited to have booked our first Go Beyond breaks in the South East of England, with 100 children offered a place in Essex in 2026. This marks the start of a whole new adventure.
Our group sizes will remain small and nurturing, but together these developments mean that in 2026 we plan to offer 1250 breaks, the largest number in our charity’s history. We are building on firm foundations, strengthened by more than three decades of experience.
As we have travelled around the country looking for new opportunities and partnerships, we have been welcomed by like minded organisations. At the same time, we have seen a sharp decline in opportunities for children to have a residential break. Once something every child experienced, these opportunities now depend on schools and families having the budget to make them happen and many simply cannot. For the children we support, a break away might never be possible without Go Beyond and the wonderful supporters who make it all happen. And yet, we know these breaks have never been more important.
Life continues to be tough for many, with rising inflation and more families living in insecure housing. More than 20 percent of children referred to us this year came due to housing issues and poverty. Our offer is as important as ever and increasingly essential.
To everyone who has helped make this year possible, and who encourages and supports us to keep going, we offer our heartfelt thanks. We are on a mission to reach more children, and we welcome anyone who would like to refer a child, invest in our work, volunteer, or partner with us.
Please get in touch and be part of our mission to bring a little magic into every child’s life.
