1891
Established
29
Schools in 2024
368
Holidays in 2024
Welcome to Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre
Since 1891, Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre has given children facing challenging circumstances in their daily lives, the chance to experience something many of us take for granted – a holiday by the sea. We are a small but determined Derbyshire charity with a big impact, built on the belief that every child deserves joy, adventure, and memories to cherish.
Why we do what we do
Too many children in Derbyshire are growing up in poverty or difficult circumstances. Many will never enjoy a holiday, feel sand between their toes, or experience carefree time away from daily struggles. These missed opportunities don’t just take away fun – they limit confidence, wellbeing, and hope for the future.
What we do about it
We provide free, fully supported seaside holidays at our centre in Skegness. Here, children are cared for by our dedicated staff and volunteers, enjoy good food, laughter, trips to the beach, and activities that nurture their confidence, resilience, and friendships. These holidays give children a break from challenges at home and the chance to return happier, more confident, and ready to thrive.
Why we’re needed
For many children, this is their very first holiday. The difference is lasting – they come home with memories, smiles, and a sense that they matter. With rising child poverty, our work is more needed now than ever.
How you can help change a child’s life
Donate – just £380 funds a holiday for one child. Donate using either our ‘Go Fund Me‘ or ‘Just Giving‘ appeal pages
Fundraise – take on a challenge, hold an event, or join one of our campaigns.
Volunteer – give your time at our centre or support us locally. Email: [email protected]
Partner with us – schools, businesses, and community groups can work with us to bring hope to children.
Connect & share with others – Follow our journey on socialmedia as we plan for a brighter future. Share our mission and story to help us raise awareness.
- Share your story – Have you or a close family member visited our Centre for a holiday? Share your story with us – we would love to hear from you! Email us [email protected]Come along and join in – Look at our events page to see what’s going on, where and when, come along, have a chat about what we are up to and how you might be able to help.
Together, we can continue to make a lasting difference in their lives. Every contribution, big or small, creates brighter futures for Derbyshire’s children.
Facebook Posts
Join Us in Making a Difference: The Comeback Appeal 2026
For over 130 years, we’ve been offering children the chance to create cherished memories, build confidence, and enjoy the magic of a seaside break. These holidays provide so much more than fun—they offer a vital boost to the well-being of children who need it most. But rising costs have been no secret and so we have taken the decision to pause holidays at our centre in 2025, with the aim of coming back bigger and stronger in 2026.
So the goal of our 'Comeback Appeal' is to raise £75,000 to bring back our life-changing holidays to disadvantaged children in Derbyshire and spread joy and hope to even more children in 2026.
This year, we need your help to make this possible. By contributing to The Comeback Appeal, you’ll be helping us bring sunshine back into the lives of children who might not otherwise experience a holiday.
Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to giving these children the gift of happiness, hope, and unforgettable memories.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and support for this cause that means so much to all of us. Together, we can make 2026 a year to remember for Derbyshire’s children.
Let’s make the comeback stronger than ever.
Contact Us Today
Some of Our Valued Supporters
Morrisons | Swadlincote, Derbyshire | 4th October 2025
Today the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre were delighted to have had our table and pop up banner in the Morrisons supermarket in Swadlincote.
We were, as ever overwhelmed by the level of engagement from the people that visited us.
Events like this are vital for the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre to raise funds, but there is another key aspect that comes from being there. What's that you might ask? Well it's the opportunity to engage with so many people; some of whom actually have direct links to the seaside home in Skegness. Like so many people we meet if they haven't been themselves, they know people who have had a holiday with us.
We are always so delighted when hearing them talk about their time there, and stories of others have been there is really humbling. Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre has been around for 134 years, providing free holidays for children who otherwise wouldn't get them.
The event raised £133.23 for us, money that will go directly towards our Comeback Appeal 2026, where we are aiming to raise a total of £150,000 to bring back our life-changing holidays to disadvantaged children in Derbyshire and spread joy and hope to even more children in 2026.
There are of course other ways for people to support us, volunteering and fundraising being the primary roles.
We are including the open donation campaigns for ease of locating and hopefully to enable donations to be made:-
Stuart Boon and Xavier walk to Blackpool
www.justgiving.com/page/stuart-boon-xavier-andrews-1
Comeback 2026 appeal
www.justgiving.com/campaign/comeback2026
There’s also a lot of information available about ways to volunteer and how we’re planning for next year on our website
dchc.org.uk
Today is also a special day for us as Derbyshire Live interviewed Keara Potter who as a 10 year old visited our centre in Skegness; I’ve included a link to the story below:-
www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/i-stayed-derbyshire-childrens-holiday-10547531
Thanks to everyone that supported us today, especially Morrisons for allowing us to use their supermarket foyer and to the people that spoke with us for their stories. And of course thanks to everyone who supports us, whether that's from donations of money, time or generous gifts, we very much appreciate it.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to learn more.
Janine Holmes ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Swadlincote Morrisons
We are here today collecting for the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre
Some very generous people have already been kind enough to stop by and share stories about their time at the centre and many more have popped their change into the yellow tins.
Thank you Swadlincote ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
🌟 Stories like this remind us why community, compassion and giving back matter so much. At Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, we need incredible volunteers like Keara to provide joy, care and support to children who need it most and with Keara’s story, remind us why what we do makes such a difference. If you’d like to make a difference with us in 2026, we’d love to hear from you 👉 dchc.org.uk/volunteering/
If you’d like to join us on our Open Day in Skegness on Saturday 18th, and see our Centre and hear more about the work we do there, drop us an email [email protected]
🎅 And if you fancy something festive and fun – the Derby Santa Fun Run is coming up on Sunday 30th November! Run, walk, or jog in your Santa suit and nominate DCHC as your chosen charity when you sign up. Every step helps us bring seaside holidays and happy memories to Derbyshire children. Sign up here 👉 www.thederbysantarun.co.uk/
Whether it’s giving your time, your energy, or your miles, you’ll be part of something truly special. 💚
#Volunteering #SantaFunRun #TeamDCHC #milesforsmiles ... See MoreSee Less
'I stayed there as a child but now I plan to volunteer at kids' holiday centre'
www.derbytelegraph.co.uk
Keara Potter wants to give something back and is hoping that your generosity will help it to reopen1 CommentComment on Facebook
What an amazing story from Keera. This shows us all how important the work is that the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre does in providing breaks for children who wouldn’t otherwise get them. I’m fortunate to be involved with charity, both as a trustee and also as a fundraiser. Seeing and hearing from Keera is a reminder of the difference volunteering can make to somebody’s lives. Her story is one we often hear from so many others in communities across Derbyshire. Our focus is to comeback in 2026 to provide holidays in Skegness that will enable even more children to have the same experiences that Keera and others had in their childhood.
❄️ Have you signed up yet? 🎅👟
The Derby Santa Run is just around the corner – Sunday 30th November at Markeaton Park – and we don’t want you to miss out on the festive fun!
🎟 Adults £15 | Kids £5 | Dogs go free
🎁 FREE Santa suit + medal included
When you register, choose Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre as your charity – every step you take will help a child from Derby & Derbyshire enjoy a seaside holiday they’ll never forget. 🌊💚
👉 Don’t wait – register today: www.thederbysantarun.co.uk
#DerbySantaRun #RunForChildren #FestiveFun ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Looking for a fun way to kick off the festive season? 🎅✨
Join us for The Derby Santa Run – a 5K fun run (or walk!) where the whole family can take part.
📅 Sunday 30th November | 11am
📍 Markeaton Park, Derby
🎟 Adults £15 | Children £5 | Dogs go free!
(Santa suit + medal included 🏅)
When you sign up, don’t forget to nominate Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre as your charity. Every step you take will help a child from Derby & Derbyshire enjoy a seaside holiday they’ll remember forever. 💚
👉 Register now: www.thederbysantarun.co.uk
#DerbySantaRun #FestiveFamilyFun #RunForChildren ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Many thanks to the Mastroianni family and customers for all your donations into the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre yellow collection tins which you have in your ice cream vans.
This summer Mastroianni Ice’s and antoniosices.com collected £166.23 for us. Over the years the family have raised over £1,240 in this way, which is fantastic!
Having your support makes a huge difference to us.
All our income is from donations and gifts so we are very grateful for the part you play in enabling us to give free holidays for the children of Derbyshire who otherwise wouldn't get one.
Thanks again. ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
That's brilliant, such a great amount to raise and so lucky to have you as loyal supporters for so long. Not only fantastic ice cream but also fantastic support for the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre. 😀