A nationwide children’s charity is giving a vital Easter break to vulnerable children from Essex.
In total Go Beyond is providing breaks for around 1,250 children during 2026, the most in the charity’s 34-year history.
This year it is using a centre in Essex and the first group of children will walk through the doors over the Easter school holidays.
Go Beyond breaks are for eight to 13-year-olds who struggle with issues like poverty, bereavement, mental health challenges or caring responsibilities.
The breaks are designed as early interventions, offering children respite from daily stress, emotional safety and opportunities to build confidence, resilience and positive relationships
The charity has centres in the Derbyshire dales and in Cornwall but this year they are also using the publicly owned Cardfields Centre near Chelmsford.
It means children from London and the Essex areas will be able to spend time in the countryside just an hour’s journey from their homes.
Go Beyond CEO Michele Farmer said: “We are thrilled to be offering more breaks than ever before. It marks the start of a new chapter for us in a different part of the country.
“The period marks the time when we can all recover from winter and for the young people who attend it will be able to get out into the fresh air and have some fun and playtime with the challenges they normally face in their everyday lives.”
Following the Easter breaks the charity hopes to invite more children to Cardfields during the summer.
Ms Farmer said Go Beyond breaks are provided free of charge to families but the biggest barrier for some children is the challenge of travelling.
“We are really hoping that the option of going to Essex will overcome that issue and would welcome talking to any organisations who can help us expand the number of young people we can help,” she said.
There are estimated to be up to one million children around the UK growing up in poverty, living in overcrowded homes, sharing beds, with no space to do homework and with parents struggling to pay for basic needs, she said.
Ms Farmer said: “A few days away can be transformative, replacing stress with freedom and giving children the confidence to believe in themselves.
“And so many magic moments are created by the children, giving them memories they will treasure forever.”
She said 80 percent of young people say they find it easier to make new friends after a Go Beyond break and 85 percent leave believing people care about them.
She said: “Our ambition is to grow provision in the South East and use this partnership model with Cardfields as a blueprint to help more vulnerable children across the UK.”
For more details and to refer a child for a break with Go Beyond please go to https://www.gobeyond.org.uk/breaks/go-beyond-south-east
