The summer holiday season has come to an end and although many of us were unable to travel abroad this year, we’ve still had the opportunity to escape our worries and the pressures of daily life whether that’s by reading a book in the garden, having a picnic in the park with family, or driving to the beach for the day. After our holidays we talk with friends about feeling ‘rejuvenated’ and ‘transformed’. For us, transforming the lives of children across the UK isn’t dependent on the season, it’s a yearlong mission.
We provide children who have been bereaved, abused or bullied, who are living in poverty or caring for loved ones the chance to escape their worries and pressures. Under the wide-open skies of the centre in Derbyshire, and the soothing waves near the centre in Cornwall children come on a Go Beyond Break with the weight of the world on their shoulders, and leave knowing that there is more in their future than their day-to-day struggles.
Michele Farmer, CEO Go Beyond, explains: “We are all grateful for our week in the sun, a mini break in the country or city break. We know that a change of environment really does help us: we feel refreshed, and we come back to our everyday lives with new energy to deal with whatever life throws at us.”
“Just imagine the impact that a week in the countryside can offer for a child who lives every day facing serious challenges. A child who has never visited the countryside before, never walked on a beach, never swam in the sea.”
We aim to give children a chance to make memories that last a lifetime. We provide them with opportunities to make friends and to try new activities that inspire them and build their confidence. Throughout their time on a break, they’re surrounded by caring, supportive, and skilled staff who help inspire their self-belief so they can go back home with new energy and resilience.
After a week on a break the transformation is clear: Azalea* told us that this trip was her first holiday outside of London, and she wanted to make the most of it. She was shy at the beginning but came out of her shell as the week passed and made friends with the other children. She was unsure about joining in with some of the activities, but pushed herself to try hiking and surfing, and even managed to stand up on the surfboard! For many children like Azalea* this break does not come often enough.
Help more children like Azalea experience the calming effects of the sea and countryside!
