Caring county charity gives festive cheer to deserving youngsters
A DERBYSHIRE charity has been handing out festive cheer this Christmas to some of the youngsters who have been otherwise unable to benefit from its services in 2021.
The Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre (DCHC), which celebrated its 130th birthday in 2021, normally takes 600 children from across the county for a summer holiday to its centre in Skegness. Those who go have been selected because they would not otherwise get a break, because they come from homes where the impact of financial hardship, deprivation or abuse has created a situation where stress is common and there are few comforts.
As well as that, the caring charity has traditionally given children a festive get-together too. But both this year and in 2020, neither the summer nor Christmas holidays have been able to take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rather than see children go entirely without, DCHC has provided vouchers from high street stationers WH Smith as an alternative Christmas present to some of the youngsters on its books.
Alan Grimadell, chairman of DCHC, said: “It’s been very disappointing that we have been unable to run our normal holiday centre in Skegness both in 2021 and 2020. Especially at Christmas time, I think we are all very much aware of the need for a bit of cheer, which is why we decided to provide vouchers from WH Smith has a gift for children we think would really benefit.
“We are hoping to be able to open our centre in Skegness up again in 2022 and are currently busily fundraising so that the maximum number of children will be able to go. It’ll be great to see their smiling, happy faces again after such a long time away.
“Many of us long for a holiday and may have had our travel plans curtailed due to the pandemic – but spare a thought for children who may come from homes where they would never get a break at all unless our charity provided it. All youngsters should be able to experience the simple fun of the Great British seaside – that’s just what the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre aims to give them.”
To support the DCHC’S “One in a Million” campaign with £4 a month, text DCHCMILLION to 70085.
DCHC was founded in 1891 by friends Harry Sykes and Arnold Bemrose. Harry noticed two boys playing with a sailboat on a puddle in the West End of Derby, a deprived area at the time.
Having gained permission from their parents, within two weeks he took 14 children on a trip to Skegness. The following year, 223 children enjoyed a holiday and a specialist centre in the popular seaside resort was opened in 1898.