Has anyone been on a homestart subsidised holiday?

[SmugColditz]

My local Homastart are offering a chalet on the East coast (not sure where but probably close to Skegness) for £105 for a week in the school holidays. This is absolutely bargainacious. Has anyone been one one of these before, what are they like and is it worth applying for one?

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hi colditz - can't offer any advice with the holiday but do you know much about Homestart? dont mean the website info, but what they really do, the practical real stuff - thanks.

No experience I'm afraid SC, but how bad could it be? That price in the summer holidays is a bargain. Hope it's nice and you can take it. Let us know if you do, because I expect a lot of people need info like this. So many families just don't get holidays. It's sad.

could it be do crap it wasn't worth £105?

so crap

I know, isn't it an amazing price? The beauty is, if you have very little ones and can take a none school holiday time, it's only 85!!!!!

It's called the opportunity chalet.

SingleDad, Homestart are, basically, a toddler group for families with a child under 5. You can ask for a volunteer to go round and see you (if you want one) or you can just go to the toddler groups.

These groups are a LIFELINE for some of the parents there ... and there are many dads. They subsidise trips (we are going to a farm in 2 weeks, £5 a head for anyone over 3, free if under, HEAVILY subbed, it must be), sing happy birthday if it's your child's birthday, sell very cheap refreshments, give Easter eggs at Easter, occasionally students offer a free massage, there are dentists who come in and hand out toothbrushes to the kids, people who come in with very tame guinea pigs etc, someone who comes with a huge box of very loud instruments.

they have snack time which is cheese and fruit, you can drop in or walk out as you please, and occasionally at mine (not to any set schedule of course a HV turns up with some scales and weighs anyone who wants it.

But I had no idea they did holidays.

As you may have guessed from the things they offer, a huge amount of support is offered to the poorest (monetary) and neediest (not monetary) members of society. They are staffed, they have crafts run by a playleader and I will sing their praises all day long!

It could be a bargain but you could also be subjected to interfering old women telling u how to bring up your own kids. You cant possibly know better than them because you are poor(and they are patronizing) but if you can garunte that no one will 'pop round to play' then Id go for it.

hi how do you apply for the holiday would love to go on hols this year

i am a homestart volunteer... but our branch dont offer the holidays....

It could be a bargain but you could also be subjected to interfering old women telling u how to bring up your own kids. You cant possibly know better than them because you are poor(and they are patronizing) but if you can garunte that no one will 'pop round to play' then Id go for it.

Comments like that are not helpful at all as a nursery nurse many of my professional colleagues are employed by sure start and believe me they are not interfering old women telling you how to bring up your kids ........just because someone isnt financially well off doesnt mean they cant be darn good parents its about offering services and access to all the equipment and facilities they have are very good and give children opportunity to experience things that might otherwise be beyond their parents finances.

A lot of the parents who attend sure start facilities are very well educated and just use the facilities - you dont actually have to be piss poor to use the fcilities either.

smug if you fancy the holiday give it a go - i would

I got a free holiday recently (easter holidays) through a lone parent group (not homestart).

We had seven day in a chalet in Hemsby Norfolk. If we'd of had to pay for it ourselves it would have been around the £100 mark (according to the brochure) for a 2 bed chalet that could sleep 6 (incl the sofa bed). So sounds like a similar deal to what you might be getting.

It was pretty basic, more of a shed than a chalet, but it was clean, had a tv, kitchen with new appliances, electric heaters, a swimming pool on site, beach 3 mins walk away, kids playground and kids club and evening entertainment thrown in for that price. Had to take our own towels but bedding was provided. A bargain really when you think of it all.

I have to say I probably wouldn't choose to go there just me and ds, but having other single parents for company and their children for my son to play with really made it a great week.

I think you should go for it! You willhave to take everything you need for the stay from loo paper to washing up liquid and a teatowel, just think of it like camping but in a 'chalet' and you'll need to take everything apart from a kitchen sink

gilly, that sounds lovely! seriously, I'd pay £100 to have a week away.

Well then have a look in the Hoseasons brochure. That's where the holiday village we stayed at is in.

I will, thank you!