The Primary Club funds summer fun

Grant ensures blind youngsters enjoy a family holiday at specially adapted hotel

The Royal Blind Society, who for 140 years have been helping people who are blind or partially sighted, is using its grant from The Primary Club to provide two weeks' stay at one of its specially adapted hotels, Honeywood House in West Sussex.

The donation will enable nine visually impaired youngsters who also have additional disabilities to enjoy a proper summer break with their families including a host of activities provided by the hotel such as trips to the seaside and entertainers.

Special themed parties such as a madhatter’s tea party will also be laid on for any guests celebrating a birthday during their stay. The hotel also provides two nurse carers for the week to help parents, ensuring that everyone has a rest. The Royal Blind Society works with The Eyeless Trust to run the holidays, with the Trust charged with sourcing the families most in need of a break. The youngsters, ranging from 2 to 18 years old, will travel from all corners of the UK to visit the hotel, including this year Northern Ireland, Yorkshire and North Wales.

"The hotel staff always look forward to the two weeks over the summer when we turn the hotel over exclusively to children," said Derek Froud, head of fundraising at the Royal Blind Society. "Undoubtedly it’s absolutely critical that visually impaired young people and their families have a break from their usual environments and are able to enjoy a proper family holiday together. Not only does the week’s stay at Honeywood House provide new exciting stimulus as well as a rest but it’s also an opportunity for the youngsters to make new friends and for the families to share their experiences with others in similar situations."

"We’re really pleased to be able to support the Honeywood House holiday scheme for a second year running," added Derek Underwood, patron of The Primary Club. "The work of the Royal Blind Society in improving the quality of visually impaired people’s lives is invaluable and it’s great to be part of that. Clearly through these holidays the children gain from new experiences, helping to develop their skills and build their confidence."