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.
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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
Asda | Sinfin, Derby | 18th April 2026
Today the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre were delighted to have had our table and pop up banner at Asda in Sinfin, Derby. With thanks to both Julie Baker and Vicky Seed for making us welcome at the store, we set up our table, banner, popped on our sashes and held our collection tins.
We were, as ever overwhelmed by the level of engagement from the people that visited us.
For all of us at the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre events like this are vital for raising 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. The Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre has been around for 135 years, providing free holidays for children who otherwise wouldn't get them.
One of these engagements that really struck a chord was from a lady who stopped there in 1955; she captured the essence of what we did then and what will begin doing again this year by saying;
"I cried all of the way to the centre in Skegness because I didn't want to go. I cried all the way home from the centre because I didn't want to come home!"
On the day we were joined by our Junior Ambassador, Corey and his mum, Angie. Whilst this was their first time doing this, they slipped into it brilliantly and continued to raise funds for us, something they've been doing for a few years now.
There is a lot of information available about ways to volunteer and how we’re planning for next year on our website, the links are shown below:-
dchc.org.uk
dchc.org.uk/events/
dchc.org.uk/volunteering/
Thanks to everyone that supported us today, especially Asda for allowing us to use their supermarket community space 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.
The event today raised a stupendous £194.14! We are so pleased by this and the money will go directly to bringing back our life-changing holidays to disadvantaged children in Derbyshire and spread joy and hope to even more children in 2026.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to learn more.
Janine Holmes
Simon Evans
Lee Jepson ... See MoreSee Less
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
I remember being at Asda Spondon and there was a lady who worked on security there who went as a child too. She found herself in one of the photo books. I wonder if she still works there 🙌
Well done Corey! Always our superstar fundraiser!
Amazing charity so happy to see them back at and Asda
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🚴♂️⛰️ 4 WEEKS TO GO! ⛰️🚴♀️
In just 4 weeks, hundreds of incredible people will take on the challenge of the Cosy Bike & Hike… and there’s still time for YOU to be part of it.
On Saturday 16th May, you can:
🚴 Cycle all the way from Derby to Skegness (107 miles!)
🥾 Take on a 20-mile hike to Ashbourne
🥾 Or try the new 13-mile option
All to raise vital funds for children who desperately need a break.
At Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, we know just how life-changing a holiday can be. Confidence grows, friendships are made, and children get to simply be children again.
💛 This is your chance to make that happen.
Whether you ride, hike, fundraise, or cheer from the sidelines — you’ll be part of something truly special.
👉 Sign up today: www.cosybikeandhike.com/
👉 Or sponsor someone taking part
Let’s come together and give more children the chance to feel the sand between their toes this summer.
#CosyBikeAndHike #4WeeksToGo #CharityChallenge #Derbyshire #Fundraising #MakeADifference #DCHC ... See MoreSee Less
Home - Cosy Bike and Hike
www.cosybikeandhike.com
Cosy Bike & Hike is Derbyshire's biggest multi-discipline fundraiser, supporting children's holiday charities. On 16 May 2026, choose from two events:1 CommentComment on Facebook
We can’t wait! We’ve signed up with friends for 13miles which is the first year there’s this option available. So apart from the miles we’re hoping for great weather on the day. 😁
🚃 All aboard for Skegness! 🚃
Our CEO Janine Holmes and chair Mike Copestake climbed aboard this great historic vehicle which is now at home in the safe surroundings of Great Northern Classics Derby on Osmaston Road.
In its travelling days this was a Derby Corporation No 1 Tram and in fact this is the last surviving example.
The tram is just one of the fine heritage sets of wheels that are available to view at Great Northern Classics which is hosting what promises to be a brilliant day out on May 9 as we gear up (see what we did there?) for re-opening this year.
Along with admiring other Derby vehicles like the classic Rollerworld boot car, visitors will also be able to test out their inner racing driver on a Formula 1 simulator, get their competitive juices going on the giant slot car racing and hear the majestic full throttle sound of the famous Rolls-Royce Merlin engine which will be on hand and fired up at regular intervals throughout the day.
All profits go to our charity. Cars are £15; pedestrians are £3 and under-16s go free.
If you're driving down we recommend you booking a spot via the link in the comments.
It'll be a great day out! And it'll help us put more smiles on the faces of children enjoying a holiday by the sea.
Thank you so much to sponsors LEAD I.T Services and Manthorpe Engineering for supporting the day. ... See MoreSee Less
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www.eventbrite.com/e/planes-trains-automobiles-tickets-1986064812317?aff=oddtdtcreator
🎉 We’re turning 135—and you’re invited! 🎉
Join us on Saturday 13th June 3pm at Derby Cathedral for a really special celebration of 135 years of Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre.
This isn’t just a service—it’s going to be something truly memorable. We’re working with Derby Theatre (through their CANVAS programme) and the amazing The Invisible Friends to bring our story to life through music, storytelling and creativity.
We’re also incredibly grateful to our very first Principal Event Partner, Vaillant UK, whose support is helping us make this celebration possible.
If you’ve ever been part of our journey—or just want to be part of something special—we would love to see you there.
👉 Let us know you’re coming here:
derbyshirechildrensholidaycentre.beaconforms.com/form/4be3ce5d
📰 Read more about it in the Derby Telegraph here:
www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/long-running-derby-charity-celebrates-10898740
Please share and help us spread the word! ... See MoreSee Less
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📰 We're in the news 📰
It's great to see that the media has picked up the story of our 135th anniversary which we're celebrating this year!
Thank you to the likes of Derbyshire Times, Derbyshire Live and Charity Today for supporting us in spreading our news far and wide.
Yes, we're going to be a whopping 135 years old this year and we're celebrating with a fabulous service at Derby Cathedral on June 13 followed by a luxury afternoon tea at Repton School on June 28.
We'd love to hear from previous guests at our centre who would like to come and help us celebrate. It's a year all about stories - past and present.
If you came to stay with us as a child and would be happy to share your story, please do get in touch.
Email us on [email protected]. We'd love to hear your memories. ... See MoreSee Less
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Full story here: www.charitytoday.co.uk/long-running-charity-marks-135th-birthday/
Went there as a kid loved it amazing place needs saving for underprivileged kids I loved it my mate did charity walk for here please help keep this place open xxxxxxcccc
Kathy’s Song performance goes down a storm!
Last night an event organised as a fundraiser on behalf of the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre saw a capacity turnout of supporters.
The artists ‘Little Red Cars’ were absolutely brilliant, performing their own creation called Kathy’s Song; a mixture of story telling and singing which focused on the life of Paul Simon and his relationship with Kathy from Essex.
Tracing Paul’s rise to stardom and his collaboration with Art Garfunkel the duo effortlessly moved from 1963 to the final piece of the story in 2014.
A truly fantastic evening, a game of heads and tails in the interval, culminating with a raffle at the end.
Thanks to all the local companies that provided such amazing prizes, including:-
The Spa at Breedon Priory
Derby Conference Centre
Derby Uncovered
The Ritz Cinema, Belper
Rollerworld-derby.
Thanks also have to go to Dave at Belper Football Club for providing the perfect venue, and of course to Sue Cook and my wife Alison for all their energy, enthusiasm and effort in making sure this event, the first of its’ kind that we’d run, went swimmingly.
Everyone really did enjoy themselves and as a charity we are so grateful for the funds raised; a staggering £1100! This will go towards helping disadvantaged children of Derbyshire between the ages of 6-11 can enjoy a 5 day break by the sea in Skegness at no cost to their families.
To read more about Cat and Ian take a look at their back story here:-
www.catweatherill.co.uk/backstorymusic/ ... See MoreSee Less
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