How to Apply for a Disabled Holiday Grant for Disabled People in the UK

Who doesn’t love a holiday? But the reality is that whilst planning a holiday can be an exciting experience, for disabled people and their families, it often comes with unique challenges. Finding accessible accommodation, arranging accessible transport, managing any additional care and support requirements can be overwhelming and for many, the challenges are compounded by financial struggles, while for others the need for specialised support due to complex medical or mobility conditions can make it unaffordable.

In this article, we explore a wide range of disabled holiday grants and supported holiday options available to disabled people, children, carers, and families, as well as guidance on how to access them.

Purpl accepts no responsibility for the content of third-party websites and cannot guarantee that all these services mentioned may be able to help. Please note that situations and funding change from time to time. Purpl offer this information to be helpful and in good faith.

Can Disabled People Get a Holiday Grant?
Who is Eligible for a Disabled Holiday Grant?
How can Disabled People Apply for a Holiday Grant?
Supported Holidays for Disabled Individuals
Holiday Grants for a Disabled Child
Other Holiday Funds and Accessible Holiday Options
Holiday Grants for Carers
Regional Help with Holiday Breaks for Disabled People
Tips for Applying for Disabled Holiday Grants
When is the Best Time to Apply for a Disabled Persons Holiday Grant?
Can Disabled People Receive Multiple Grants to Cover the Cost of a Holiday?
Purpl Holiday Disabled Discounts
Frequently Asked Questions about Disabled Holiday Grants

Can Disabled People get a Holiday Grant?

The short answer is yes, disabled people can apply for a holiday grant, but not everyone will be successful and it will depend on your individual circumstances.

Holiday grants for disabled people are provided by charities, trusts and many more organisations. The holiday grants for disabled travellers are usually given to those who are most in need.

These grants aim to ease the financial burden, provide enriching experiences, and create lasting memories.

Disabled holiday grant applications can take a few weeks or months to process, so make sure you apply early.
Georgina’s Money Saving Disability Tip

Who is Eligible for a Disabled Holiday Grant?

You will most likely need to provide supporting documents such as proof of disability and income. Some organisations will require a referral from a health or social care professional.

The process varies depending on the grant provider, so it’s essential to do your research and contact the specific organisation for detailed guidance.

For some grants the disabled individual will need to be in receipt of a disability benefits including:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Child Disability Payment (CDP)

How can Disabled People Apply for a Holiday Grant?

Disabled individuals can apply for a disabled holiday grant through organisations that provide financial assistance to disabled individuals and their families to help fund or partially fund holidays. These include:

3H Foundation: This foundation supports disabled people and their carers through various programs, including subsidised group holidays, carer support, and UK holiday grants. Holiday grants typically range from £250 to £550. Applicants must be UK residents on a low income, and applications require evidence of disability and financial status from an appropriate professional.
Family Fund: Aimed at low-income families with a disabled or seriously ill child or young person under 17, the Family Fund provides grants for essential items and family breaks. Eligibility is based on receipt of certain benefits or tax credits, and the child must have a high level of additional support needs arising from their condition.

You can also use the Turn2Us grant search tool to find grants.

A family with a man, woman and three children are in the sea at the shore kicking and splashing

Supported Holidays for Disabled Individuals

For those disabled people seeking a more structured and supported holiday experience, it is worth exploring companies that offer specialised services including:

Disability Aid Trust (DAT): DAT assists with the extra costs of helpers to ensure that severely disabled individuals can enjoy holidays or short breaks. Applications are open to individuals and groups and must be supported by a doctor, or social worker. Funds are allocated twice a year, with deadlines on February 1st for summer holidays and August 1st for winter holidays.
Holidays with Help: This organisation arranges holidays for groups of disabled people, including individuals, couples, families, and group bookings. The cost covers accommodation, meals, activities, and trained helpers, with a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and evening entertainment. Medical and nursing advice is also available.
The Jumbulance Trust: A national charity enabling severely disabled and unwell individuals to travel on holidays in the UK and Europe. The trust provides specially adapted vehicles (“Jumbulances”) and drivers at subsidized rates to groups, making it possible for those needing extra care to travel comfortably.

Holiday Grants for a Disabled Child

If you have a disabled child or children, there are organisations that offer grants specifically designed to facilitate enriching holiday experiences:

Trefoil: Trefoil helps children and young people, families, or small groups in Scotland who meet our needs criteria to enable participation in recreational activities or holidays that would otherwise be inaccessible. They also provide personal development grants to young people under 25. Applications require two references and can be downloaded from their website.
Sebastian’s Action Trust: Provides respite holidays in the Hampshire countryside for families with a child or young person with life-threatening or life-limiting medical conditions. Their purpose-built holiday home offers various facilities, including a hydrotherapy swimming pool, games room, and sensory room. Holidays generally run from Friday to the following Tuesday at a cost of £100.
Go Beyond (formally known as CHICKS) provide activity respite breaks from March to December for children aged 8-15
Diabetes UK Support Holiday offer adventure holidays for children with diabetes aged 7-18 years old, and weekend breaks for children with diabetes and their families
Happy Days Children’s Charity provide day trips and short breaks to families with children in the UK living with mental, physical and emotional difficulties
The Newman Holiday Trust provide holidays for children with disabilities and special needs
Calum’s Cabin provides short breaks in Rothesay, Argyll, for use by families who have a child suffering from cancer or a cancer related disease
The Children’s Hope Foundation provides funding, including for holidays and days out. for children and young people affected by illness, disability or poverty
Destination Florida specialises in organising holidays to Florida for children between the ages of 7 – 15 who have missed out on the fun and laughter of childhood due to illness
Donna’s Dream House is a Blackpool based trust providing free holiday experiences for children and teenagers with life-threatening illnesses and their families, and for recently bereaved siblings and their families
Dreamflight is UK charity that changes young lives through taking children with a serious illness or disability, without their parents, on the holiday of a lifetime to Orlando, Florida
Dream Makers Children’s Charity helps children with illnesses causing lifetime disabilities such as cerebral palsy, respiratory difficulties, down syndrome and other fatal illnesses
The Ellen MacArthur Trust takes young people aged 8-24 from all over the UK on sailing trips to help inspire them in rebuilding confidence after treatment for leukaemia
The Emily Ash Trust provides adventure days and holidays for children and young people suffering with cancer
The Henry Smith Charity offers grants towards holidays or UK days out for groups of children under 13 from areas of high deprivation, experiencing disadvantage or those with a disability
Heswall Disabled Children’s Holiday Fund hosts an annual week-long summer camp for boys with physical disabilities aged 9-15 from North West England
The Kids Cancer Charity (formerly the Christian Lewis Trust) provide programmes for families of children with cancer to have a break
Respite Breaks with Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund provide free Respite Breaks and spending money for children who have cancer and their families.
Make-a-Wish makes awards to children and young people with life-threatening illnesses
The Oliver Curd Trust provide fully equipped holiday accommodation to UK families with children who have cancer and other life threatening illnesses
Over the Wall run camps for children aged 8-17 years old who are/have serious illness
Rays of Sunshine helps seriously ill children in the UK aged 3-18 years old by granting wishes, and organising outings
Round Table Children’s Wish grant ‘handcrafted’ wishes for children and young people aged 4-17 with life threatening illnesses
When You Wish upon a Star grants wishes to children aged 2-16 with a life-threatening illness
The Youth Cancer Trust provide support and free activity holidays for young people aged 14-30 diagnosed and living with cancer or any malignant disease
Dreams Come True help life limited and seriously ill UK children aged 2-21 fulfil their dreams
Break provides short breaks for young people with disabilities and complex needs, aged 5-18
Kidney Care UK funds short breaks and holidays for adults and families affected by kidney disease
Deafblind UK owns three caravans which are let at a low-cost rate to deaf blind members for holidays located in North Wales and Norfolk
My Family, Our Needs offer a lot of information and support for families with a disabled child

Other Disabled Holiday Funds and Accessible Holiday Options

We appreciate not everyone will be eligible or able to receive a grant. The following companies offer accessible holiday accommodations and services which may suit your needs:

The Holiday Homes Trust: Provides low-cost, specially adapted self-catering holidays to disabled individuals, carers, and their families. The trust owns 10 caravans in various UK locations, 8 of which are adapted and accessible with ramp entry and wet rooms. Early booking is advised due to high demand.
Lyneal Trust: Offers accessible canal boat and cottage holidays in Shropshire for people with disabilities, illness, or injury, along with their family, friends, and carers. They provide day trips or full-week holidays with adapted facilities.

Holiday Grants for Carers

Holidays are not only important for people living with disabilities but we shouldn’t forget the vital role of our carers, some organisations offer grants to provide carers with much-needed breaks.

To be eligible carers typically need to be over 18 and work full-time as an unpaid carer (30+ hours per week). They also must be able to arrange interim care for the disabled person they care for.

Margaret Champney Rest and Holiday Fund: Provides small grants to carers to enable them to have a complete break from their caring role while the person they care for is receiving respite. Applications must be made by a suitable professional, such as a social worker or community nurse, on the carer’s behalf.
The Leonardo Trust helps people in Dorset who are voluntary carers for sick or disabled relatives or friends
Carefree provides breaks for full time unpaid carers, transforming vacant hotel rooms into vital breaks
The League of the Helping Hand can offer one off payments for carers to take time out away from their day-to-day situation

A group of disabled teenagers are laughing and joking together in a park outdoors

Regional Help with Holiday Breaks for Disabled People

It is well worth checking for services available in your local area through, for instance, your local council’s website, as funding may be available for residents. Here are a few examples:

The Imago Community provide community short breaks for disabled children and young people based in Kent
The Kensington Foundation is Blackpool-based, funding the ‘Daisy Chain Project’ which offers holiday accommodation for respite breaks
KIDS offer a portal for UK parents and carers to book manage short breaks for their child or young person with a disability
Kingston Centre for Independent Living (KCIL) offer a holiday grant on behalf of Kingston Council for holiday costs.
Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukaemia organise days out for families with children who suffer from cancer or leukaemia

Tips for Applying for Disabled Holiday Grants

If you are going to apply for a holiday grant, it is worth reviewing our tips below to help strengthen your application.

Here are some key tips to improve your chances of success:

Clearly Explain Your Need: Be specific about why you need the grant and how the holiday will benefit you or your family. For example, mention the impact of your disability or caring responsibilities and how a break would improve your physical, emotional, or mental well-being.
Provide Comprehensive Documentation: Ensure all required documents, such as proof of disability, financial hardship, and professional references (e.g., from a doctor, social worker, or teacher), are included. Missing or incomplete documents can delay or jeopardise your application.
Follow Instructions Carefully: Read the application guidelines thoroughly and adhere to all instructions. Submit your application before the deadline and use the format requested (e.g. online form, email, or postal submission).
Write a Personal and Detailed Statement: Include a compelling personal statement that conveys your circumstances and how the grant will make a difference. Highlight specific challenges, such as accessibility barriers or financial constraints, and emphasise the positive outcomes of the holiday.
Customise Your Application: Tailor your application to the specific criteria of the grant. If the organisation focuses on providing breaks for carers or families with children, emphasise how you meet these criteria and align your needs with their mission.
Seek Professional Support: Ask a trusted professional, such as a social worker, healthcare provider, or charity representative, to review your application or provide additional supporting information. Their endorsement can strengthen your case.
Demonstrate Planning: Show that you have a clear idea of the holiday you intend to take, including details such as the destination, costs, and how you plan to use the grant. This demonstrates initiative and preparation.
Be Honest and Transparent: Avoid exaggeration or leaving out important details. Grant providers value honesty and may contact your references to verify your circumstances.

When is the Best Time to Apply for a Disabled Persons Holiday Grant

Applying for a holiday grant for disabled people should be done as far in advance as possible to maximise your chances of securing funding. Many grant providers operate on a first-come, first-served basis or have specific funding cycles with application deadlines.

For example, the Disability Aid Trust requires applications by February 1st for summer holidays and by August 1st for winter holidays. Other organisations may have rolling deadlines but allocate funds until their annual budget is exhausted, so early applications are advantageous.

It’s also important to consider the time needed to gather the necessary documentation, such as proof of disability, financial information, and professional references, as well as the processing time for applications, which can take weeks or even months.

Starting the process at least three to six months in advance of your planned holiday is a good rule of thumb. This timeframe allows you to address any issues that might arise, explore multiple funding sources if needed, and secure your holiday arrangements with confidence once the grant is approved.

A man and woman are on a beach, the man is a wheelchair user and is wearing white with a dark blanket on his knee, the woman is stood behind him with her arm around him, she has long dark hair

Can Disabled People Receive Multiple Grants to Cover the Cost of a Holiday?

Yes, you can apply for multiple grants to cover different aspects of your trip, and in many cases, this is encouraged, especially if a single grant does not fully meet your needs. Some organisations provide partial funding that may only cover certain expenses, such as accommodation or transportation, leaving other costs like meals, excursions, or carer support unfunded. Applying to multiple sources allows you to combine grants to cover the full cost of your holiday.

When applying for multiple grants, keep the following in mind:

Check Grant Policies: Ensure that the organisations you are applying to allow funding from multiple sources. Some grant providers may have restrictions or require you to disclose if you’re receiving additional funding elsewhere.
Be Transparent: Clearly state in your applications that you are seeking additional funding from other sources to cover the entire cost of the trip. Transparency can show that you are proactive and well-organised.
Tailor Each Application: Customise each application to focus on the specific aspect of the trip that the grant will support. For example, one grant might focus on transportation while another emphasises accommodation or carer costs.
Plan a Detailed Budget: Prepare a breakdown of your trip expenses to demonstrate how you intend to allocate funds from different grants. This will also help you avoid over-requesting or duplication.
Allow Enough Time: Applying to multiple grants can be time consuming, so start early to ensure you meet the deadlines for all organisations.
Utilise Advice Services: Some charities and organisations offer guidance on applying for multiple grants and may even provide lists of compatible funding sources.

By strategically applying for multiple grants, you can increase your chances of securing sufficient funding to make your holiday both accessible and affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions for Disabled Holiday Grants

Who qualifies for these disabled holiday grants and what documentation is required?

Typically, eligibility is based on factors like financial need, disability status, or age, with supporting evidence from a doctor, social worker, or similar professional. For some you will need to be in receipt of disability benefit payments.

Do I have to pay back a disabled holiday grant?

Disabled holidays grants are sums of money that are not required to be repaid. There are a number of organisations in the UK that can provide holiday grants for disabled adults.

Do the disabled holiday grants cover all expenses, such as transportation, accommodations, and carer support?

This will depend on the specific grant you apply for as they vary widely. Some grants cover a wide range of expenses such as transportation, accommodations, and carer support whilst others may provide funding specifically for helper costs to ensure proper support during the holiday.

To make up for gaps in coverage, some applicants apply for multiple grants or seek additional funding from other sources to cover the full costs of their holiday. Checking the specific details of the grant and contacting the organisation directly for clarification is always a good idea to understand what is and isn’t included.

Are accessible facilities or specialised medical care provided during the holiday?

Yes, many holiday grants and supported holiday programs specifically focus on providing accessible facilities and, in some cases, specialised medical care to ensure the needs of disabled individuals are fully met.

For those needing more intensive medical assistance, charities like The Jumbulance Trust provide specially adapted transport with medical equipment and trained staff, making it possible for individuals with complex health conditions to travel comfortably. Similarly, Sebastian’s Action Trust offers a holiday home equipped with features like a hydrotherapy pool and sensory rooms, tailored for families with children who have life-limiting conditions.

Purpl Holiday Disabled Discounts

We are working hard to find Purpl members disabled discounts for holidays, breaks and days out. Have a look through some of our deals and offers below.

Easyjet Holidays Disabled Discount Code: Up to £300 off your next Easyjet holiday
Jet2holidays Disabled Discount Code: £25 off Jet2holidays
Radisson Hotels Disabled Discount Code: Save up to 25% off hotels when you Plan & Save
Host & Stay Disabled Discount Code: Get 15% off your next staycation in the UK
Spabreaks.com Disabled Discount Code: 8% off Bookings & Vouchers
Explorer Travel Insurance Disabled Discount Code: 10% off travel insurance