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© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
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© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
18 min read
Written by
Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Published on
February 13, 2025
Last reviewed: 20 June 2026
Applies to: UK
Written by: Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Planning a holiday can feel exciting, but for disabled people, people with long term health conditions, carers and families, it can also feel overwhelming. Accessible accommodation, transport, specialist equipment, care support, medical needs and higher travel costs can make a short break much harder to organise and afford.
The good news is that holiday grants for disabled people do exist in the UK. Charities, trusts, family support organisations and local schemes may help with the cost of accessible holidays, respite breaks, family breaks, carer breaks, children’s holidays and supported travel.
These grants do not guarantee funding for everyone. Each organisation sets its own rules, and funding can change quickly. But if you are disabled, care for someone, have a disabled child, live on a low income or need a break because of illness, disability or caring responsibilities, it is worth checking what support may be available.
At Purpl, we know disabled people often face extra costs just to access the same experiences as everyone else. Holidays are no different. A break can support mental health, family connection, recovery, confidence and wellbeing, but only when it is affordable and accessible.
Purpl accepts no responsibility for the content of third party websites and cannot guarantee that every organisation listed will be able to help. Charity funding, eligibility rules, application routes and holiday programmes can change quickly. Always check directly with the organisation before applying or booking, and use active grant directories such as Turn2us, Disability Grants UK or your local council to double check current options.
Before you book anything, check whether Purpl can help you reduce the cost of your trip. Purpl members can access disability discounts on holidays, hotels, staycations, travel insurance, breaks and days out, which can be especially helpful when accessible travel already costs more.
You can join Purpl to check current offers, including savings with brands such as easyJet holidays, Jet2holidays, Radisson Hotels, Host & Stay, Spabreaks.com and Explorer Travel Insurance. Offers change, so always check the live terms before booking.
Join Purpl today to start saving on travel, holidays and everyday disability costs, plus get access to our grant fund and other member perks: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/
Yes, disabled people can apply for holiday grants in the UK, but not everyone will qualify and not every application will be successful.
Holiday grants for disabled people are usually provided by charities, trusts and support organisations. Some help disabled adults. Some focus on disabled children and families. Others support carers, people with specific health conditions, people on low incomes or people who need a supported break.
MoneyHelper explains that charitable grants do not usually need to be repaid and can help with extra costs linked to disability or ill health (https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/benefits/benefits-if-youre-sick-disabled-or-a-carer/charitable-grants-for-ill-or-disabled-people).
Holiday grants may help with:
Some grants only pay part of the cost. Others pay the provider directly instead of sending money to the applicant. Many organisations have limited budgets, so even if you meet the criteria, funding may not always be available.
Purpl Tip: Treat holiday grants like a support search, not a single application. Make a shortlist of organisations, check each one’s criteria, and apply as early as you can.
Eligibility depends on the organisation, but many holiday grant providers look at three main things:
You may need to provide evidence such as:
Some grants may ask whether you receive disability benefits, such as:
Not every organisation requires benefits, for example, Family Fund looks at household income and the impact of a child’s disability. Families may still apply even if they do not receive benefits, although they may need to provide extra information (https://www.familyfund.org.uk/grants/are-we-eligible/).
Purpl Insight: A diagnosis alone may not be enough. Most funders want to understand your practical needs, financial situation and why a break would help you or your family.
Holiday grants vary widely. Some organisations fund accommodation only. Some help with travel. Some support respite care, carer breaks or helper costs. Others offer organised holidays rather than money.
A holiday grant might help with:
The 3H Foundation holiday grants are generally between £250 and £550, usually for accommodation, and the grant is paid directly to the chosen venue (https://the3hfoundation.org.uk/holiday-grants/).
Some organisations do not provide cash grants. Instead, they can offer the following:
Purpl Tip: Before applying, check whether the grant pays you, pays the holiday provider, or offers a specific break. This affects how you plan and book your holiday.
Start by making a simple plan. You do not need everything finalised, but most grant providers will want to understand what you need and why.
Think about whether you need:
Include practical details such as:
You may need:
Before applying, check:
The 3H Foundation says it will not award a grant if you have already booked and paid for a holiday, and its application page says evidence of benefits and a bank statement may be required (https://the3hfoundation.org.uk/holiday-grant-form/).
Save a copy of your application, all documents, emails and reference numbers. If you apply to several organisations, use a simple spreadsheet or notebook to track deadlines and replies.
Purpl Insight: Grant applications feel easier when you prepare one core explanation of your needs, then adapt it for each organisation.
There are several organisations disabled adults and families may want to check, but this area changes quickly. Some well known disability holiday charities have now closed or stopped making grants, so always check the organisation’s own website before applying.
The 3H Foundation supports people with disabilities and carers through UK holiday grants, group holidays, young carers support and carer support. Its holiday grant programme helps low income families with a disabled member organise a UK holiday. Grants are generally between £250 and £550 and usually go towards accommodation (https://the3hfoundation.org.uk/holiday-grants/).
3H is strict about how grants are paid. You should not book and pay for a holiday yourself and then expect reimbursement. The charity usually needs to pay the accommodation provider directly, so check the rules before booking anything.
If you were hoping for accessible, low cost caravan, outdoor or residential breaks, check current alternatives such as Calvert Lakes, Phab England, local short break schemes, accessible caravan providers, or charity directories such as Turn2us and Disability Grants UK.
Calvert Lakes, part of the Lake District Calvert Trust, provides accessible outdoor activity breaks for disabled people, families, groups, friends and carers. Its accessible centre near Bassenthwaite Lake includes fully accessible accommodation and outdoor activities (https://calvertlakes.org.uk/).
This may suit people looking for a supported outdoor break rather than a cash grant, but always check costs, eligibility, accommodation and support needs directly before booking.
Phab England supports inclusion for disabled and non-disabled people and runs projects, clubs and holiday opportunities. If you are looking for inclusive breaks, youth opportunities or support for disabled children and young people, check current Phab programmes before applying (https://phab.org.uk/phabs-holiday-projects-under-way/).
Lyneal Trust offers accessible canal boat and cottage holidays in Shropshire for disabled people, people with illness or injury, and their family, friends and carers (https://www.lyneal-trust.org.uk/).
Deafblind UK has holiday accommodation options for members, including low cost caravan breaks in selected locations (https://deafblind.org.uk/)
Kidney Care UK offers support to people affected by kidney disease and may help with grants and short breaks depending on circumstances and available funding (https://www.kidneycareuk.org/).
Purpl Tip: Do not rely on older lists of holiday charities without checking them. Several accessible holiday schemes have changed, closed or reduced services, so check the charity’s current website before you plan around a specific break.
Many holiday grant schemes focus on disabled children, seriously ill children and families who need respite.
Family Fund supports families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people on a low income across the UK. It provides grants and services, and grants can sometimes support family breaks, depending on eligibility and current programmes (https://www.familyfund.org.uk/).
Family Fund says it looks at income and the impact of the child’s disability when deciding eligibility (https://www.familyfund.org.uk/grants/are-we-eligible/).
Sebastian’s Action Trust provides respite holidays and support for families with seriously ill children. Its purpose built holiday facilities include features designed for families who need accessible, supported breaks (https://www.sebastiansactiontrust.org/).
Go Beyond provides residential breaks for children and young people facing serious challenges. Eligibility and referral routes can vary (https://www.gobeyond.org.uk/).
Happy Days helps arrange special days, short breaks and activities for children facing challenges including disability, illness and emotional difficulties (https://www.happydayscharity.org/).
The Newman Holiday Trust provides holidays for children with disabilities and additional needs (https://www.newmantrust.org/).
Calum’s Cabin provides holiday accommodation for families who have a child with cancer or a cancer related illness (https://www.calumscabin.com/).
Destination Florida organises once in a lifetime holidays to Florida for children aged 7 to 15 who have life limiting or life threatening medical conditions (https://www.destinationflorida.org.uk/).
Dreamflight takes children with a serious illness or disability on a holiday to Orlando, without their parents, supported by medical and volunteer teams (https://www.dreamflight.org/).
Make-A-Wish UK grants wishes to children with critical illnesses. Some wishes may involve travel or experiences, depending on the child’s wish and eligibility (https://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/).
Over The Wall runs residential camps and activity breaks for children and young people with serious illness and their families (https://www.otw.org.uk/).
Rays of Sunshine grants wishes and organises experiences for seriously ill children in the UK (https://raysofsunshine.org.uk/).
When You Wish Upon a Star grants wishes for children living with life threatening illnesses (https://www.whenyouwishuponastar.org.uk/).
Youth Cancer Trust provides free activity holidays for young people aged 14 to 30 living with cancer (https://www.youthcancertrust.org/).
Dreams Come True supports children and young people with serious and life limiting conditions to fulfil their dreams (https://www.dreamscometrue.uk.com/).
Purpl Insight: For children’s grants, the strongest applications usually explain both the child’s needs and the wider family impact, including siblings, carers and emotional wellbeing.
Carers need breaks too. If you provide unpaid care, you may be able to get support for respite, a short break or time away from caring responsibilities.
Carer holiday grants usually focus on people who provide substantial unpaid care, often for 30 or more hours per week. You may need to show that the person you care for will have safe support while you are away.
The 3H Foundation offers support for carers, including carer respite grants and other wellbeing support depending on current programmes (https://the3hfoundation.org.uk/).
Carers Trust provides information about holidays and breaks for carers and signposts to organisations that may help with respite and holiday support (https://carers.org/getting-a-break/holidays-for-carers).
Carefree helps full time unpaid carers access short hotel breaks. Carefree says unpaid carers can sign up by providing proof of identity and caring status, either by uploading documents or nominating someone as a referee (https://carefreespace.org/how-it-works).
It is not completely free. The hotel room is donated, but Carefree charges an admin fee per break. Carefree’s help centre says unpaid carers must be aged 18 or over, provide more than 30 hours of unpaid care per week, arrange interim care and be able to cover extras such as the admin fee, transport, food and travel insurance (https://help.carefreespace.org/en/articles/4202168-eligibility-criteria-for-unpaid-carers).
The break is for the carer, not the person they care for. Always check the latest admin fee before booking, as Carefree’s own pages and partner pages may show different figures.
Ogilvie Charities provides funding towards holidays for unpaid carers who need a break from their caring role. Applications usually need to come from a professional or support worker, rather than directly from the carer. The charity may help towards the cost of a holiday when the carer cannot afford one themselves (https://www.ogilviecharities.org.uk/funding-for-holidays-for-carers/).
The Leonardo Trust supports unpaid carers in Dorset, including help with breaks and wellbeing support (https://leonardocarersupport.org/).
The League of the Helping Hand may offer one off financial help to people in hardship, including carers and disabled people, depending on eligibility (https://lhh.org.uk/).
Purpl Tip: Carefree can be a brilliant option for unpaid carers who need a proper break, but check the admin fee, food, travel and replacement care costs before requesting a stay.
Not everyone will qualify for a grant, and some schemes may close when funding runs out. If you cannot get a holiday grant, you may still be able to reduce costs through accessible low cost accommodation, charity holidays or careful planning.
Because the disability holiday charity landscape changes quickly, always check whether an organisation still operates before you plan around it. The Holiday Homes Trust, for example, has now closed after more than 50 years of providing accessible holiday accommodation (https://www.holidayhomestrust.info/).
If you need accessible, low cost breaks, check active options such as Calvert Lakes, Phab England, local short break schemes, Turn2us, Disability Grants UK and local council support.
Options to explore include:
Accessible accommodation providers may offer:
Always check accessibility directly with the provider. Do not rely only on the word “accessible” in a listing. Ask for photos, measurements and details about entrances, bathrooms, bedrooms, parking and nearby terrain.
If you cannot get a holiday grant, check Purpl before you book. Purpl members may be able to save on hotels, staycations, package holidays, travel insurance and short breaks, including offers from brands such as easyJet holidays, Jet2holidays, Radisson Hotels, Host & Stay, Spabreaks.com and Explorer Travel Insurance.
Purpl Insight: A cheaper holiday is not always cheaper if it is not accessible. Inaccessible accommodation can create stress, extra taxi costs, equipment hire costs or even mean you cannot use the break safely.
Some support is local rather than national. Your local council, carers centre, children’s disability team, local charities or community foundations may know about small grants and short break schemes.
Examples of regional or local support routes include:
You may also find local schemes through:
Scope provides guidance on finding and applying for disability grants, including using grant searches and checking eligibility carefully (https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/finding-applying-funds-grants).
Purpl Tip: Search for grants using your postcode, local authority, diagnosis, caring role, age and employment history. Some smaller grants only appear when you search locally.
Holiday grants are often limited, so a clear application can make a difference.
Before spending time on a long application, check the organisation’s website for recent updates, closure notices, changed deadlines or paused funding. Disability and respite holiday charities can change quickly, and older online lists are not always up to date.
Be specific about why you need support. Explain:
Funders want to understand the impact. Explain how the break could help with:
Missing documents can delay or stop your application. Check whether you need:
Explain your situation clearly. Include disability related costs where relevant, such as taxis, care, equipment, therapies, heating, food, transport, repairs, prescriptions, accessible clothing or support.
Do not send the same wording to every funder without checking their criteria. One funder may focus on carers. Another may focus on children with serious illness. Another may fund accommodation only.
A letter from a social worker, GP, nurse, teacher, support worker, occupational therapist, charity worker or carer support adviser can strengthen your application.
Include:
Some funders will not fund holidays that have already been booked or paid for. Always check before you pay deposits. This is especially important for the 3H Foundation, which warns applicants not to book and pay for a holiday before applying (https://the3hfoundation.org.uk/holiday-grant-form/).
Purpl Insight: A strong application is clear, honest and practical. It shows what you need, why you need it, and how the break would help.
Apply as early as possible. Many holiday grants run on limited budgets, and some close once funds run out.
A good rule is to start looking three to six months before you hope to travel. This gives you time to:
Some organisations have fixed deadlines. Others accept applications throughout the year but may still run out of funding.
You should also allow time for access planning. If you need hoists, accessible transport, a wet room, medical equipment, oxygen, assistance dog arrangements or extra carers, these can take longer to organise.
Purpl Tip: Do not wait until school holidays or summer. Many families apply at the same time, and accessible accommodation can book up quickly.
Yes, you can apply for more than one holiday grant, especially if one grant will not cover the full cost.
This can work well when:
However, you must be transparent. Some funders ask whether you have applied elsewhere or received other funding. Always answer honestly.
When applying to multiple grants:
If you receive partial funding, check whether Purpl holiday discounts could help reduce the remaining cost. This may be useful for travel insurance, hotel stays, UK breaks, package holidays or days out that are not covered by the grant.
Purpl Insight: Applying for more than one grant can improve your chances, but honesty matters. Funders need to see that the budget is realistic and not duplicated.
Holiday grants can help, but not everyone will qualify. That is why Purpl is working to bring disabled people and people with long term health conditions more savings on holidays, breaks, days out and travel essentials.
Purpl members can check current offers across travel, hotels, staycations, breaks, insurance and days out. Offers can change, so always check the live offer page before booking and make sure the discount works for your dates, destination and booking type.
Current Purpl travel and holiday savings include:
These discounts may be useful if:
Before using any travel discount, check:
Purpl Tip: If a holiday grant does not cover the full cost, check whether a Purpl discount could reduce the remaining amount. Even smaller savings on hotels, insurance, breaks or days out can help bring the total cost down.
Purpl also has a Community Grant for members. It does not cover holidays, but it is still worth knowing about if you are trying to manage wider disability related costs.
The Purpl Community Grant is designed to offer extra support to Purpl members who may need help with essential costs linked to disability, long term health conditions or daily life. It is separate from holiday funding, so you should not apply expecting it to pay for a break, accommodation, flights or holiday spending money.
However, if you are looking into holiday grants because money feels tight more generally, the Purpl Community Grant may be another support option to keep in mind. It could sit alongside other help such as benefit checks, charitable grants, local support, social tariffs and Purpl discounts.
Purpl Insight: Holiday grants are only one part of the picture. If disability related costs are putting pressure on your household, check all the support available to you, including benefits, grants, discounts and local help.
Eligibility depends on the funder. You may qualify if you are disabled, have a long term health condition, care for someone, have a disabled child, live on a low income or need a break because of illness, disability or caring responsibilities.
You may need proof of disability, benefit letters, proof of income, bank statements, medical evidence or a letter from a professional such as a doctor, nurse, social worker, teacher or support worker.
Most charitable grants do not need to be repaid. However, you must use the money for the purpose agreed by the funder and follow the grant terms.
Some grants cover accommodation, some help with transport, and some focus on carer or helper costs. Each funder has different rules, so check what they will and will not pay for before applying.
Receiving PIP may help show evidence of disability, but it does not guarantee a holiday grant. Funders usually look at your full situation, including income, need, disability related costs and the impact of the break.
Yes, some grants support families with disabled or seriously ill children. You may need evidence of your child’s disability, support needs, household income and why the break would benefit your family.
Yes, some organisations offer grants or breaks for unpaid carers. You may need to show that you provide substantial unpaid care and that the person you care for will have safe support while you take a break.
Yes, many people apply for more than one grant, especially if one funder cannot cover the full cost. Be honest about other applications and make sure you do not ask two funders to cover the same cost.
Apply as early as possible, ideally three to six months before you hope to travel. Some schemes have deadlines, and others close when funding runs out.
Some funders will not pay for holidays that have already been booked or paid for. Always check the organisation’s rules before paying a deposit or booking.
No. The Holiday Homes Trust has closed after providing affordable and accessible holiday accommodation from 1969 to 2025. Do not try to book a new break through the Holiday Homes Trust. If you need accessible, low cost holiday options, check current alternatives such as Calvert Lakes, Phab England, local short break schemes, Turn2us or Disability Grants UK (https://www.holidayhomestrust.info/).
Some supported holiday providers offer accessible accommodation, trained helpers, adapted transport, medical advice or specialist facilities. This varies by provider, so ask detailed questions before booking.
Yes. Purpl discounts cannot replace holiday grants, but they may help reduce the cost of hotels, staycations, package holidays, travel insurance, spa breaks or days out. This can be useful if you do not qualify for a grant, only receive partial funding or want to reduce the overall cost of an accessible break.
No, the Purpl Community Grant does not cover holidays. It is still worth knowing about if you are a Purpl member and need help with other essential disability related costs.
Purpl works with travel, holiday, hotel, staycation, insurance and days out brands to help disabled people and people with long term health conditions save money. Check Purpl for current travel and holiday discounts before booking.
Disabled holiday grants can help disabled people, carers and families access breaks that may otherwise feel unaffordable. Grants may help with accommodation, travel, carer support, accessible facilities, family breaks, respite, supported holidays or short breaks for children.
The most important thing is to apply early, check each organisation’s current criteria and be clear about your needs. Funding changes often, and some organisations close schemes when budgets run out, so always check directly before applying.
This is especially important now because some older accessible holiday charities have closed or changed. The Holiday Homes Trust has closed, and Disability Aid Trust has stopped making new grants, so always check current sources before planning around a specific provider.
You may also be able to reduce costs through accessible low cost accommodation, local short break schemes, carer support, charitable grants and Purpl travel discounts.
Purpl members should also know about the Purpl Community Grant. It does not cover holidays, but it may help with other essential disability related costs and can sit alongside wider support such as benefits, grants, discounts and local help.
Everyone deserves the chance to rest, reconnect and enjoy a break. For disabled people and carers, the right support can make that possible.
Georgina is the Founder of Purpl, a UK savings platform created to help disabled people, people with long term health conditions, parents and carers reduce the extra costs of daily life. Purpl was built from lived experience and the belief that disabled people deserve fair access to discounts, support and clear information that helps them feel more confident, included and financially supported.
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