Hopes kids' holiday centre will reopen next year as cost-cutting aids fundraising

JUST a couple of weeks after the Derby Telegraph announced it was backing the campaign to make sure the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre in Skegness can relaunch next year and start giving holidays to disadvantaged children once again, its trustees say they are hopeful that it will be able to reopen in 2026.

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The 134-year-old charity's £150,000 Comeback Appeal 2026 still needs to raise just under £40,000 to fully reopen following a pause in its operations in 2025.

The trust board met earlier this week and said it had “a positive meeting”.

A trust board statement said: “We have thoroughly reviewed our costs and made cutbacks, including letting go of our Derby office, to ensure we are operating as efficiently as possible.

It has also been necessary for holiday centre leaders to work together on a new strategy to help the much-loved charity operate on a sustainable basis moving forwards.

“We are not over the line yet but trustees are hopeful that the charity can reopen next year.

“This is subject to the final £40,000 of its fundraising campaign being raised.

“The charity is very grateful to the Derby telegraph, which has launched a campaign to get readers to back its fundraising campaign.

“This has already raised donations which along with other tireless fundraising this year, has put the charity in a good place as it seeks to reopen in 2026.

“Many former guests of the centre, which has been running since 1891, have backed the centre's Comeback Appeal and have donated funds so that it can reopen in 2026.”