Scottish social tourism project gives struggling families a break

We all deserve a holiday from time to time, yet there are many Scottish families who struggle to afford even a short break.

The numbers make for unhappy reading: over one in three people in Scotland are unable to take a holiday and over 250,000 children live in relative poverty.

Thankfully, a nationwide project coordinated by the Family Holiday Association and VisitScotland, is aiming to reverse this trend.

This year, ScotSpirit Breaks has helped over 420 struggling families to go on holiday in Scotland thanks to the outstanding generosity of Scotland’s tourism industry.

A nationwide project, ScotSpirit was launched by VisitScotland in 2016. Building on a successful first year, the project has seen a 67% increase in the number of families getting time away, as well as more than twice as many industry partners providing support.

Collaboration is at the heart of the project and thanks to the generosity of the 88 partners across Scotland’s tourism industry, who donated accommodation, transport, meals and visitor attraction access, over 1600 people were able to experience a much-needed break. Two-thirds of the families had never had a break together before.

Lisa Malcolm, Makenzi Smith and Kacey McMillan at Glasgow Science Centre. Kacey is Lisa’s daughter and Makenzi is a Kacey’s friend.

For many of the families, the results have been life-changing:

• 87% visited a new part of Scotland for the first time;

• 83% now have more confidence;

• 89% get on better;

• 96% are able to cope better; and

• 100% said they had fun and created happy memories.

All families helped were referred by a professional working with them in a supporting role like a teacher, social worker or health visitor. All families are on low income, with many facing some of the toughest challenges life can bring such as adverse health, inadequate housing, domestic violence or bereavement.

VisitScotland and the Family Holiday Association are now looking forward to 2018, where they hope to gain the support of more tourism partners across the country and help more families get that fundamental break that will mean so much to them.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, said: ‘ScotSpirit breaks is a fantastic initiative that allows disadvantaged families to enjoy time away together for a much needed break and I’m pleased that a record number have benefited this year. The feedback from families show the impact on them has been overwhelmingly positive.’