FHA as been helping families for over 30 years. It works to promote the quality of family life for those parents and children who experience disadvantage as a result of poverty through the provision of and by promoting access to holidays and other recreational activities. In 2007 it is anticipated that over 1,250 families will go on holiday as a result of the FHA grant-making programme.

To research and promote the value of holidays for families experiencing disadvantage.

To increase awareness of the scale and scope of the problem of lack of access to holidays.

FHA helps to provide holidays for economically and socially deprived children with their families. Typically, the families are suffering severe financial hardship and with extra difficulties such as long-term or terminal illness, violence or abuse, depression, disability or overcrowded and inadequate housing. Currently, the FHA helps about 1,200 families a year - around 5,000 individuals - to have what is often their first ever family holiday.

providing grants: the FHA makes a modest grant towards the cost of a holiday.

lobbying and campaigning: the FHA is involved in raising the profile of its work, and in raising awareness with the public and government of the benefits of holidays for those in need.

working with others: the FHA works with local authorities, GPs, social workers, voluntary and statutory bodies, the media, and other like-minded agencies both here and in the rest of Europe.

To read more about the FHA, apply for holiday application forms, read about news and events, otherwise support the FHA or make a donation click here for the FHA's website.