The Bishops’ Lent Appeal for 2026 is in support of Family Holiday Charity, an organisation dedicated to helping families struggling with some of life’s toughest challenges.
In the UK, two and a half million families with dependent children cannot afford a one-week holiday.
Family Holiday Charity exists to provide a unique welfare response for families facing some of life’s toughest challenges, such as life-limiting illness, children with SEN, mental health issues and poverty, to name a few.
Holidays are designed to help us all to thrive.
Of all the families who received a holiday from the charity in 2025:
- 40% had never been on holiday before.
- 90% said that relationships within their family have improved.
- 67% said that their children feel more confident engaging with other children.
For families facing poverty, illness, bereavement or isolation, a simple break away can feel impossible. Yet spending valuable time together, resting and having the chance to recover, can be truly life‑changing. It restores hope, strengthens relationships, and creates memories that will last a lifetime.
- In 2024, Family Holiday Charity received 846 applications from referrers - 23 of these applications came from families living within the Diocese of Leicester. Due to a lack of funding, they were only able to support two of these families.
- In 2025, they received 10 applications from families living within the Diocese of Leicester. This dip in applications shouldn’t be understood as life becoming easier for families. Instead, this points to continued hardships faced by families, alongside a growing awareness that support is extremely limited.
Download - Family Holiday Charity Impact Report 2025 (63MB)
Through this year's Lent Appeal, parishes across the Diocese of Leicester are invited to support this vital work, helping families experience rest, hope and renewed strength during times of real challenge.
Watch Bishop Martyn introduce the Appeal:
Your generosity can make a real difference. By supporting Family Holiday Charity through the Bishops’ Lent Appeal, you can help give families the chance to rest, reconnect and rebuild hope at a time when they need it most.
Donate online here
See other ways to donate.
Family Holiday Charity work with 49 referrers working in organisations located across the Diocese of Leicester who work closely with the families they will refer to for a holiday. Once the family is referred Family Holiday Charity take care of the rest.
Families are empowered and supported to choose when and where they go on holiday.
Family Holiday Charity only offer locations they are confident provide a safe and manageable environment for families, generally these are holiday parks close to the seaside provided through companies such as Hoseasons, Parkdean and Butlins. Family budgets are tight so each family is provided with a contribution to food and travel costs in the form of e-vouchers.
Share the story
Read the stories of some of those supprted by Family Holiday Charity:
Jenny’s Story | Mandy’s Story | Sarah’s Story
Watch a video of a Family Holiday Charity trip.
Fundraising Resources
Download our resource pack with graphics to help you promote the Bishops' Lent appeal and run fundraising events. The pack includes:
- Blank Posters
- Bake Sale Poster
- Colourful Bunting Template
- Fundraising Ideas
- Fundraising Posters
- Feedback from referrers.
As of January 2026 the average cost of sending a family of four away to experience the transformative powers of a holiday is £767.
This Lent, will you help families reconnect, and create life long memories together?
Donate online here
See other ways to donate.