Each year the FHA monitors the comments of both the families and welfare agents involved with the  holidays we help facilitate.  Reports for 2003 and 2004 are available.
 

You can access the reports in pdf form by clicking here for 2007;  here for 2004 and here for 2003.  2008 survey results

The single most important aspect of the holiday highlighted by families was being able to spend time together as a family and welfare agents reported that the most important result they witnessed was an improvement in mental health. 
 

A summary of the results from 2004 are detailed below.
 

567 completed family feedback evaluation forms were analysed from 2004.   They related to 177 Butlins holidays, 151 Haven holidays, 49  British Holidays, 190  ‘others’ (comprising private grants, caravans, weekend breaks, last minute holidays and group holidays). Skegness , Bognor Regis and Minehead were the three holiday resorts visited most frequently, by 59, 33 and 28 families respectively.  The next in terms of popularity were Devon Cliffs (16), Primrose Valley (13), Perran Sands, Cornwall (12) and Camber Sands (12).   From 1 to 9 families visited 78 other different holiday locations in the UK and 11 visited locations abroad.

40% of the families travelled to their holiday by car, 22% travelled by coach or bus, 16% travelled by train.  The others used a variety of combinations of these.  Few people (14%) had problems with the travel to their holiday.  Those who travelled by coach (train) were the most likely to say they had problems, while those who travelled by car were the least likely. 

 84.6% of families said they had enough information about the holiday before they went.   About 70% of the families said that the FHA grant for food and travel was about right. The other 30% said that it was not enough. Just over half of the families, 53.7% had holidays that were not in the school holidays.  Of these just over a half, 56.2% said they would have preferred to have them in school holidays.
 

WHAT FAMILIES SAY !

Mother and three children, Ramsgate

For the last two years the family has suffered serious disruption and the children have had to go into care for short periods. The mother has a serious health condition. The FHA helped this family to have a week’s holiday in Clacton.

We had a lovely week, most of all we were able to play together away from home.

Mother, four children, and grandfather, Rotherham

The parents are separated, and the family survives on benefits. The children have health and behavioural problems; one son has asthma and has been hospitalised on various occasions. The FHA helped this family to have a week’s holiday in Great Yarmouth.

…just getting away from home…being away from the same thing all the time…being able to let the kids go off when they wanted, without me having to worry too much… The kids liked it most when I went on the water log with them and I got wet (ha ha)

Parents and two children, Glenrothes

The father has spondyloarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. He experiences considerable pain and has to attend hospital frequently. His condition places the family under considerable stress. The FHA enabled the family to have a week’s holiday at the Blue Dolphin Resort

The kids seemed to really enjoy themselves and they seemed to be more content because there was loads of activities…the week away made us more relaxed…everything about the holiday was great

Grandparents and two teenage boys, Rotherham

The boys’ parents separated and they are in the custody of their grandparents. They have a sister, who lives with the father. The grandparents are in poor health, and a holiday was essential. The grandparents were reluctant to take the money offered, in case of causing family problems. The FHA helped to provide this family with a holiday.

Thank you for giving my family the chance…we are all very grateful for a marvellous holiday…came home more relaxed and more able to cope with stress…all in all we had a holiday to remember

Parents and four children, Sheffield

This family is isolated and under enormous pressure. The eldest child has recently been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. The family feels unsupported and had no chance of a holiday without external help. The FHA helped to provide a week at Butlins, Skegness

It was a break to get away from everything, no stress and lots of relaxing…swimming pool was a definite hit