Grenfell blaze survivors enjoy group holiday at coast thanks to wellwishers

SURVIVORS of the Grenfell Tower fire have enjoyed a week-long group holiday in Cornwall.

The break was arranged by mother Esme Page after she watched television reports of the disaster from her home in Truro, 280 miles away.

She posted on Facebook six days after the blaze and founded Cornwall Hugs Grenfell, arranging holidays for those affected.

The project, which is set to run until 2019, provided free holidays for families in individual cottages throughout the summer.

Last week, it hosted 62 guests from Kensington, consisting of survivors, those evacuated from neighbouring blocks and supporting families.

In what is believed to be the first holiday of its kind, the 15 families stayed together at the University of Exeter’s Cornwall campus at Penryn.

They visited local attractions such as a farm, the Eden Project and St Michael’s Mount and took part in activities including watersports and a zip wire.

The group, including 30 children, had therapy sessions of massage, reflexology, sound therapy, sculpture and singing workshops. Local food included cream teas, fish and chips on the Swanpool beach, ice creams and lunch on Gyllyngvase beach.

“I came up with the idea on the day of the fire, watching the coverage but I restrained for a few days because I thought it would be too difficult and complex,” Ms Page said.

“Then I felt compelled that I had to do it. I posted on Facebook and the response was overwhelming.”

Since then, the project has received more than 200 pledges of accommodation and vouchers from local businesses for attractions and meals.

Firefighters from Falmouth, along with a local school’s headteacher, acted as minibus drivers for the group.

Ms Page described the holiday as “a rich, humbling week”, adding many guests felt it had rebuilt something of the community they lost.