A FAB Idea
The YHA is justly proud of its Do It 4 Real and Breaks 4 Kids operations, but there’s another scheme they operate that gets less publicity. Families Activity Breaks – FAB Camps – are operated in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence to give a break to the bereaved families of servicemen.
The first camps took place last year, at Coverack and Whitby, and combine outdoor activities with counselling support, and the chance to meet other families in the same situation. One of the first attendees, whose 18-year-old son died in Afghanistan last year, described the scheme thus:
I had an absolutely fantastic time with my children on a FAB holiday last year. My son had died only seven weeks before we went on the holiday, and for my younger children aged only four and five at the time – those weeks had been a particularly traumatic and confusing time.
Being able to go on holiday made all the difference. They benefited hugely from spending time with children of all ages who had suffered a similar loss, and we could spend time together as a family for the first time in weeks. It was an overwhelmingly positive experience I will never forget.
Last week it was announced that the camps would continue this year on an expanded basis, with spaces for up to 100 families at Conwy and Cairngorm in addition to the original two venues.
It’s terrible that such things are needed, but I’m really proud of the YHA for getting involved.
Related Pages
Powered by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.