Harpenden Phoenix Holidays - Have you heard?The Great Teddy Bear Run

Hertfordshire Wings are now actively supporting Harpenden Phoenix Holidays. This is a local registered charity, which is run by an active Committee, and a bank of Volunteer Helpers.  They provide the opportunity for local severely disabled adults to take a group holiday to a suitable European destination, using specially adapted transport. The essence of these holidays is fun, fun, fun!  And they have plenty of it.
The  travellers’ medical conditions and disabilities are varied. They might be sufferers from MS, severe arthritis, stroke victims or indeed people with other life threatening conditions.  The common factor is that they are not able to take holidays without the assistance of carers.
 It is not easy to find a holiday venue where one can enjoy a relaxing break, which includes safe, comfortable transport, one to one 24 hour assistance from an able bodied helper, and at a reasonable cost to boot! So, Harpenden Phoenix Holidays provides exactly that! The holidays leave as a group of people and come back as one happy family!

(Above – The Trip to Lofer 2007)

An able-bodied Volunteer Helper accompanies each disabled traveller (they call them VIPs) day and night throughout the duration of their holiday. Any necessary medical and practical assistance that might be needed is on the vehicle, which remains with them during the trip and is used for excursions. Each hotel is selected for its suitability and facilities provided to ensure that great fun is had by all, and a qualified nurse accompanies each holiday.

Whilst holidays are a major part of HPHs work, throughout the year, various social events and day trips are also arranged, again utilising specially equipped transport. These trips are well suited for those people who believe that a trip abroad might not be ideal for them, and gives them a great chance to meet the volunteers and make friends with other travellers. The Committee and Trustees go to great pains to select practical disabled-friendly destinations, and suitable environments, to make a day out a day to remember.

Some of the day trips they have enjoyed were to Wisley, the BBC, Houses of Parliament, Kew, London Zoo, The London Eye, just to mention a few. Theatre trips are also arranged and again these are all run on the same basis of one to one assistance from our Volunteers.

At the end of the year, the VIP’s and Volunteer Helpers all look forward to getting together at the re-union meals to chat over the great times they have had, and are keenly discussing the plans for the forthcoming trips and holidays.

It takes a huge amount of effort behind the scenes to raise the funds to heavily subsidise each trip. But by continuing efforts, they are able to pay half the costs of each trip, therefore making a holiday affordable to each traveller. So Hertfordshire Wings have decided to help.

By supporting tin shakes and putting on static displays of the bikes locally, attention is drawn to the charity. Plans are currently being discussed to put on various other charity events…..so watch this space!

If you want to find out more about Harpenden Phoenix Holidays, are a disabled person that feels they might benefit from a holiday, or indeed would like to be a Volunteer Helper, more information can be obtained by telephoning Mr John Favell on 01582 764179