HF Holidays is the UK's largest walking and leisure activity holiday organisation.  It is now working with the Family Holiday Association and other partners to give disadvantaged urban families the opportunity to engage with Britain's countryside.

25 families will be hosted on two new 'Feel Good Breaks' in October: families from Rotherham will visit Newfield Hall in Malhamdale and families from Gloucester will head to the Derbyshire Dales. Feel Good Breaks are aimed at families with children at Key Stages 1 and 2.

HF Holidays is a co-operative society owned by its members and with a long history of promoting the benefits of healthy outdoor activity.  It was founded in 1913 by TA Leonard and the Feel Good Breaks scheme was devised as part of the organisation's centenary celebrations, with a pilot break held in December last year.

“We learned a great deal from our pilot weekend,” says the instigator of the scheme, HF Holidays' head of marketing and development Laura Sims. 

“The families are likely to have no transport, no waterproofs or shoes robust enough for a country walk which means everything has to be provided so that everyone can make the most of the break. 

“This is a wonderful opportunity for stressed parents and deprived children to get away, to walk and run in the great outdoors and have fun together as a family. 

“TA Leonard's vision – introducing ordinary people to the benefits of simple and 'strenuous' enjoyment of the countryside –  is as important to HF Holidays today as it was 101 years ago, and I'm very proud of the organisation's commitment to this new scheme,” says Sims.

HF Holidays is working with the Family Holiday Association and schools in Rotherham and Gloucester to identify families that can benefit from a Feel Good Break. 

Each two-night break includes outdoor activities like walking and cycling, healthy meals and a supportive and sociable atmosphere created by HF Holidays staff and volunteers.

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EDITORS NOTES:

Quotes from families who took part in the pilot break:

“It was all about having quality time together, doing things together and helping each other.”

“A great chance to talk with no TV, internet etc.”

“It was a chance for the children to achieve something out of the ordinary.”

Laura Sims and her young son participated in the pilot Feel Good Break and would be glad to talk about what the challenges were, what happened and how families responded.

It may be possible to put you in touch with a family from the pilot break, subject to their agreement.

About HF Holidays

• Founded in 1913, HF Holidays is a co-operative society arranging mainly outdoor holidays for 50,000 people each year.
• Guided walking holidays are offered for every level of walker in the UK, Europe and Worldwide.
• HF Holidays also offers cycling holidays and leisure activity holidays including art, music, literature and mind-and-body breaks.
• Country House Breaks are offered for independent travellers wishing to explore by car, on foot or by bike.
• HF Holidays has 19 Country Houses in the UK's National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For overseas holidays it uses independent hotels.
• The Ramblers is HF Holidays' recommended walking charity and receives funds from the sale of HF Holidays to Ramblers' members.
• HF Holidays is committed to Responsible Tourism, contributing to environmental projects around the UK through its Pathways Fund and supporting local Air Ambulance, Mountain Rescue teams and the Travel Foundation.
• HF Holidays has achieved Which? recommended Provider Status for the third successive year.
• Voted Best Large Tour Operator by Guardian and Observer readers 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
• HF Holidays is a member of ABTOT and is ATOL protected.  

For further information or to speak to Laura Sims at HF Holidays, please initially contact Shirley Robins at Beacon PR by email Shirley@beaconpr.co.uk