Charities unite to offer free holidays to disabled armed forces veterans

Vitalise and Royal British Legion join forces to offer free seaside break

National disability charity Vitalise and The Royal British Legion have joined forces to offer exclusive free holidays to disabled heroes.

Vitalise is inviting all those who sustained physical disabilities while serving in the British armed forces to claim a free seaside holiday, together with a guest of their choosing, thanks to a generous grant from The Royal British Legion.

Vitalise has reserved over 70 places at two of its five accessible holiday centres in April 2009.  The offer of a free one-week seaside holiday with full board, 24-hour care on-call and personal support is available to those eligible, together with one guest, such as a partner, friend or family member.

The free weeks on offer are:
Vitalise Sandpipers, Southport: 4-11 April 2009 (38 places)
Vitalise Netley Waterside House, Southampton: 18-25 April 2009 (33 places)

In order to meet the physical requirements of the guests, both Centres are purpose-built, fully accessible and equipped to cater for over 150 different disabilities.  Trained care staff will be on-call 24 hours a day.  In order to further enhance their experience, all the guests will have the company and support of volunteers during their stay.

The two Centres will organise a varied programme of activities and excursions.   Thanks to the Centres’ adapted vehicles, local places of interest, cultural attractions and nightspots will be accessible to the guests.  Nightly entertainment is also laid on at the Centres.

Vitalise Chief Executive Jonathan Powell commented:
“We are delighted to be able to offer a free holiday to our heroes from the three branches of the armed forces, who over the years have served their country in conflicts all over the world.  They did an extremely difficult job with courage and professionalism, and many of them suffered terrible injuries as a consequence.  We have over 40 years’ experience of providing quality breaks, with freedom and dignity, for disabled people and carers, so we are confident that our forces heroes will have a holiday worthy of their sacrifice.  We would especially like to thank The Royal British Legion, whose support has made these holidays possible.”

For more information about the free holiday offer, call Vitalise on 0845 345 1970, email bookings@vitalise.org.uk or visit www.vitalise.org.uk/bestofbritish. Places on the Forces Weeks are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Notes

The offer of a free holiday is funded by the Royal British Legion and is open to all those with physical disabilities sustained while serving in the British armed forces, together with one guest of their choosing.  The holidays are full-board and completely free, with the exception of drinks purchased from the bar and admission to venues on excursions. Those eligible will need to supply a medical certificate as part of the booking process, for which some doctors may levy a charge.