We’re making a special space in nature for rest, to have fun and to be looked after. This means that (when Kids’ Village is complete) we’ll be able to offer free breaks to families who’ve navigated difficult and exhausting days in hospital, to experience some magic away from the world.
Our charity friends will refer families to us for respite
and we’ll take it from there.
…being stuck in hospital day in and day out whilst your friends play outside without a care in the world. Your life revolves around treatments, injections and hospitals, whilst your friends only need to think about toys, parks and having fun! As a parent your relationships are under stress too: your social life is probably non-existent, your work may have to take a back seat or just not be possible at all and you live within a cloud. Life for a child with a critical illness is seriously tough; tough for the child, tough for the parents and tough for all of the family around. It’s a time of strain, pressure, fear, financial worries … and sometimes it’s really hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
At Kids’ Village, we want to give these children and their families important life-enhancing respite. Fun, magical moments and great memories: we aim to provide it all. Our focus is on the whole family being embraced for a while and ensuring they leave the Kids’ Village experience feeling re-charged and more confident for the path ahead.
In short, families can enjoy their special respite holidays at our purpose built Kids’ Village in the heart of the UK. Kids’ Village (when it’s built!) will be in the hamlet of Wychnor, near Lichfield just north of Birmingham.
We will create a safe and understanding environment for families to enjoy. We aim to take away some of the stress and worry of caring for a child whose future is uncertain and give families the gift of time together. Our mission is to help children with critical illnesses forget about the time in and out of hospital and instead, inspire and invigorate them for a while.
When a partner charity, named a ‘Kids’ Village Best Friend’ recommends a family for one of our Kids’ Village respite holidays, we will pull out all the stops and plan an unforgettable trip with surprises at every turn.
It’s worth noting that Kids’ Village does not exist yet as we embark on a capital appeal to raise the money to build this special place. But once we’re up and running, this is how we intend to create magical experiences for the families that stay with us…
As a family arrive at a Kids’ Village break they will be greeted with warmth and wrapped in comfort. The family will step out of the car into a peaceful and natural world, and be led into their special home for their stay… It could be over-the-top hot chocolates in winter or cool ice-cream in the summer will greet the guests and from this moment there will be surprises at every turn.
The special child will walk into a cosy, cuddly woodland lodge decorated in their honour. Kids’ Village will touch every sense, with special sounds, smells and touches that will make the family feel blanketed in comfort. Kids’ Village are the masters of creating a personalised atmosphere. The “Magic Co-ordinators” will make sure that whatever the child loves will be included.
Kids’ rooms will be a magical haven full of imaginative surprises inspired and informed by the dreams of children. The ceilings may turn into a night sky, there may be a princess dress up walk-in wardrobe or even a lego kingdom built under a bed.
Once settled in, as well as indulging in precious time together, a Kids’ Village family will have the ability to enjoy the natural world around them, take part in our fun activities and also head out to exciting attractions where they will be treated like royalty. Activities, events & breakfast will take place in “The Hive”- a central facility, café and check-in.
Above all, and most importantly, children & families can feel completely comfortable in at Kids’ Village, because they are surrounded by people who understand. Families will have the opportunity to connect with each other or simply relax knowing that there is unspoken upstanding and no judgement or hard questions.
When a family choose to head to the nearby attractions, they will have the best seats, fast passes and most sought-after experience.
A family will be given the chance to have one of our Kids’ Village respite holidays by one of our Kids’ Village Best Friends. ‘Kids’ Village Best Friends’ are charities that work closely with children suffering with critical illness and their families; they have the ability to give these families a Kids’ Village Break.
Once a family has been nominated they will be able to access our reservation system and choose a time to request to book. Once a family has requested to book, one of our team will be in touch to design and create the perfect break…
Kids’ Village will be the UK’s first purpose-built holiday village just for children with critical illness and their families. The site itself is north of Birmingham, near Lichfield. Hit the button to find out more!
