Kick Asthma holidays

People on a raftAsthma UK's week-long Kick Asthma adventure holidays are for children and young people with asthma (and other related conditions).

Combining physical and social activities such as abseiling, kayaking, discos and quizzes, with educational sessions that teach the youngsters more about how to control their asthma, the holidays give kids a great confidence boost and parents the chance to relax for a week.

The holidays are managed by experts and children are closely supervised by specially trained volunteers and health professionals. Kick Asthma breaks are divided into two age groups: 7-11 and 12-16, and are held at a variety of locations across the UK throughout July and August. The cost of Kick Asthma breaks is subsidised by Asthma UK and ranges from £20-£350 depending on people's ability to pay.

A great experience for children and young people

Participants have the opportunity to experience an adventurous holiday away from home, enabling them to:

  • Find out more about their asthma and how to control their symptoms
  • Meet other children and young people with asthma and other related conditions
  • Develop new skills, self confidence and independence by being away from home
  • Take part in new and exciting activities - from camping to abseiling
  • Become more independent in controlling their asthma, using their inhalers knowing why they take them

A great break for parents

  • Children and young people return more confident and talkative about their asthma knowing that there are other children with similar conditions and that they are not the only one
  • Parents get a break from the day-to-day care of a child with asthma and can spend time with their partner, other children or friends
  • Parents are secure in the knowledge that their child is being looked after by qualified volunteers and healthcare professionals who know how to manage asthma
  • Fewer school days are missed as their child's asthma is better controlled

Safety and security are our priority

The holidays are supervised by volunteers, who are fully trained and who are checked by the Criminal Records Bureau. Asthma UK has a comprehensive child protection policy which also ensures that a volunteer is never alone with a child.

One volunteer supervises a maximum of three participants, which ensures a high standard of care and attention for the children.

Volunteers are supported by at least two qualified healthcare professionals who are on hand for advice during the week and who can help with children's treatments.

All participants fill out a detailed medical form and treatment checklist before the holidays, which volunteers use to ensure they take all the medicines they are supposed to.

Kick Asthma family weekend

Asthma UK's Kick Asthma family weekend is for children and young people aged 7-16 years with asthma and their families

It will be a mixture of children-only and adult-only sessions and will offer families the opportunity to:

  • learn more about asthma and how to manage the condition
  • get advice from specialist healthcare professionals
  • meet other families who have similar concerns
  • prepare for the next meeting with their healthcare professional
  • participate in a number of adventurous activities.

Kick Asthma holiday timetable 2010

  • 4 - 6 June, Ramada Hotel, Bolton (family weekend)
  • 25 - 31 July, Merchiston Castle, Edinburgh
  • 9 - 14 August, Ardingly College, West  Sussex
  • 22 - 28 August, Laches Wood Centre, Staffordshire

Find out more

To find out more about the holidays contact the Kick Asthma team: email holidays@asthma.org.uk or call our Supporter & Information Team on 0800 121 62 55.

We are grateful to the following for their support of the Kick Asthma holidays:

  • Allergy-Chums
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Lehman Brothers
  • nPower
  • Numark Pharmacies
  • Openwork Foundation
  • Styles and Wood