In response to a lecture that I attended on the 6th October about Social Tourism where we looked at the idea of "holidays for all."
Whilst countries such as Belgium and, in particular, France pour large amounts of money into the provision of breaks for the needy, this country continues to rely on charities. This is not a NEW issue. Personal research found a report from 1976 that was released to co-inside with a Guardian article about the issue.
With most articles like this it is easy to dismiss them as "one sided" or "sensationalist," but this concentrates on the humanity within this problem. And I quote.....
Margaret was one to be accepted. Her attempted suicide was blamed by her doctor on pressures at home. She is divorced from her first husband and separated from her second. She has been forced to live with her elderly mother for 17 years and they fight most of the time. She has two teenage children and a three-year-old.
In addition, Margaret has diabetes which has given her a severe weight problem, and not surprisingly she suffers from nerves and depression.
Her nerves prevent her from getting a job so she relies on £20 a week from social security.
Social workers referred her case to the Family Holiday Association who arranged for her and the three children to spend a week together at a holiday camp by the sea in Kent. Just getting away from the house and all the tension, she said, made her feel like a new woman.
An excellent charity working hard to try to give much needed holidays to the needy, an estimated 1600 families this year alone. Follow the link to find out more.. http://www.fhaonline.org.uk/index.php?mpid=3
Barticus
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