A Derbyshire charity is appealing to business owners to back its festive appeal as it prepares to give needy children a much-deserved holiday in 2022 – for the first time in two years.
The Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre (DCHC) takes 600 youngsters from across the county for a week’s seaside break to its centre in Skegness every year, but its service has not been able to run since 2019 due to Covid restrictions.
To enable holidays to return next year the charity has printed two special Christmas cards and is urging businesses to consider using them to wish clients best wishes for the festive season.
The charity would also welcome a festive donation from any local businesses who would like to offer their support but have chosen not to send Christmas cards this year.
One of the cards is a nostalgic image of children being taken on a bus to its Skegness centre in the late 1930s, while the other, ‘Winter Trees’, has been donated by well-known Derbyshire photographer and former BBC Radio Derby presenter Ashley Franklin.
Alan Grimadell, chairman of DCHC, said: “Christmas is approaching and here at DCHC we would appreciate it if businesses in the local area could show us their support by sending some of our cards to their clients this festive season.
“Our charity celebrated its 130th birthday this year and in these Covid times our services are needed now more than ever. We know that many of the children we work with have been through some particularly difficult times during the Covid pandemic and we can’t wait to welcome them to our holiday centre in 2022.”
DCHC is aiming to open once again to the maximum numbers of young people during the 2022 season. Nominated children come from homes where the impact of financial hardship, deprivation or abuse has created a situation where stress is common and there are few comforts.
The charity is fundraising as much as possible in order to run the maximum service for children next year. A recent James Bond film night held at The Quad in Derby raised £1,150.
DCHC’s Christmas cards feature both images and are on sale at £4 for a pack of ten. To support the charity’s Christmas cards appeal, contact Lesia Tombs in the DCHC office on 01332 345424 or email admin@dchc.org.uk. The cards can also be bought from the Post Office at Park Farm Shopping Centre in Allestree.
