In this update you will hear words from Jill, a supported Mum and family of Charlie House. Jill will share with you her recent experience of going on a Charlie House funded accessible holiday experience in Fife, Scotland, with her son Harris, and husband Craig.
"Hi! My name is Jill, and my family and I are one of over 120 families supported by Charlie House and have been since 2014. My husband, Craig and I have our son, Harris who is 11 years old and lives with a rare genetic condition as well as profound and multiple learning difficulties. His condition causes additional medical challenges and has a big impact on our lives.
We recently were able to enjoy a family holiday at a fully accessible cottage in Fife, Scotland, which was made possible through the support of Charlie House.
We were excited to see what the experience would be like as well as nervous as we never really know until we get somewhere if it ticks the right boxes. However, the Charlie House family team reassured us and made sure all our needs were met to make our stay as comfortable and suitable as possible
Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by a member of the Charlie House family services team. The accessibility of the cottage was remarkable, and the layout was suitable for our needs. Thankfully we didn’t have to worry about adapting our accommodation too much. Our son requires an adjustable bed, which was already set up. All we had to do was ensure there was another bed for my husband or me to be right next to his. This eliminated the usual stress of transporting and assembling his own bed, and allowed us to fully relax and enjoy our holiday.
The beautiful, peaceful surroundings also made a huge difference. For the first time, in a long time, I felt like I was on a proper holiday, free from the usual routine of daily life. We still had to factor in Harris’s medical needs and routine for him but for me I felt I was able to relax, knowing my husband was with us and I wasn’t coping on my own when he is usually at work. The activities organised by Charlie House were enjoyable and stress-free, allowing us to just participate, have fun and meet with the other families who were also staying at the accommodation. We could chat about similar challenges and experiences and get to know each other. Having this peer support is invaluable.
The Alpaca farm visit was a huge hit. It was under cover and accessible. We were able to learn about the animals including what they like to eat, and with a bit of hands-on participation thrown in too the whole experience was great fun. It was something different for the whole family to do together.
Another of the activities which we loved was a wonderful music session provided by Music In Hospital Care. We were entertained on a rainy afternoon singing along to songs that we all loved. There was a real party atmosphere, and it was lovely to see Harris enjoying the music with his peers.
We are so grateful for the experiences we've had with the support of Charlie House and the support services provided over the years. It’s hard to explain my feelings of what it really means to us; there are so many emotions involved.
The decision to go on holiday was easy as everything was arranged for us. This reassurance eliminated the usual anxiety I feel about holidays. All we had to do was pack our belongings in our Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle and drive to our destination. We enjoyed our stay so much and would book another holiday with Charlie House in a heartbeat.
This holiday was more than a mini-break; it gave us the opportunity to spend precious time together as a family."
- Jill Cameron
It is only thanks to the support of people like you that holidays like these provided by Charlie House are made possible, bringing respite and relaxation to families just like The Cameron’s.
Thank you so much for your continued support.
