2008 Update

Hi Everyone, since 2008 is coming to an end I thought now would be a perfect time to bring you up to date with everything that’s been happening with Holidays From Home — there’s been a lot!

The first half of the year was spent setting up the Norfolk Pilot, using the Lottery funding we achieved last December. This involved having the holidays printed as books and recorded onto audio CD. We launched the pilot in August and so far have 40 people taking the holidays and getting some really positive feedback. We still have holidays available so if you know anyone who lives in Norfolk and might like to take one please get in touch. The holidays don’t require internet access so are accessible for a wide range of people. We’re now working with NHS Norfolk to find ways to directly provide the holidays to those that need them. We are also developing some new destinations, including Japan and India.

In November we updated the website and then launched the holidays nationally, allowing free access to the holidays online, for anyone who can’t go on holiday because of ill health, disability or age. If you know of anyone that may benefit please pass on our details. We also made some additions to the online holidays by way of sound effects which people can listen to while they take the holiday. Visit http://www.holidaysfromhome.co.uk/page.php?id=4 for an example day.

We’ve had amazing amount of interest from people as well as a lot of media coverage. We were featured twice in the Evening News and I was nominated for a Local Hero award; which was a lovely surprise. I was also interviewed live on Future Radio, a local radio station and wrote an article for Disability Now. We’ve had a lot of contacts because of that piece including Radio Four, not once; but twice! First a show called Travellers Tree were doing a programme on Virtual Travel and wanted to include us. I had to go into the Radio Norfolk studio and record an interview. It went out in November and 20 people from across the UK joined within days. We’re still getting new members on a regular basis because of it; which is fantastic. We were also contacted by You & Yours, who also wanted to do a piece on Holidays From Home. It’s due to go out at 12pm (noon) on Friday 9th January, so if you’re around please have a listen, or you should be able to listen again online during the following week.

I’ve been filming again for Inside Out, I was contacted by the man who filmed my original piece on severe ME who wanted to do a follow up. It was a perfect opportunity to promote Holidays From Home, so I agreed and we’ve been filming on and off for the past six months. It’s going to be shown on Wednesday 14th January on BBC1 East or SKY 981 at 7.30 pm, if you would like to watch it. I’m hoping we get lots of new members and opportunities from it.

We’ve had several successful and fun quiz nights which have helped us raise much needed funds and we are now working on ways to sustain our projects through the following year.

People have been so kind in volunteering their time to help Holidays From Home this year, we’ve had advice from some of the top business people across Norfolk who have really helped us develop our services, we’ve also had amazing people helping us research and write holidays, donate photographs, support us at events and generally spread the word about Holidays From Home.

Thank you so much for the continuing support which you have given us. We wouldn’t be where we are without you, it’s truly appreciated by myself and all the users of the holidays. We’ve been very blessed in 2008 and I hope that 2009 brings more great things for Holidays From Home.

I want to wish you a Happy Holidays, from Holidays From Home.
Best Wishes
Claire

You and Yours on Radio 4!

Well the media coverage just keeps on coming which is fantastic! I've just organised an interview tomorrow with a reporter from You and Yours who are going to broadcast a piece on Holidays From Home over Christmas. I hope we get more members after this one as we did really well after the Travellers Tree.