The Welsh youth organisation, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, is set to help 250 disadvantaged children to get a summer holiday. With recent statistics showing 30% of Welsh children now live in poverty, Urdd is re-launching its campaign to ensure that some of the most deprived Welsh children and young people get the chance to experience a holiday in 2024.

The organisation is now appealing to individuals, companies and societies to contribute to its 'Fund for All - Urdd Summer Camps', which you can find out more here. The fund aims to offer a holiday to 250 children and young people living in poverty or under difficult circumstances.

Since 2019, every summer the 'Fund for All' scheme has sponsored hundreds of youngsters' holidays at the Urdd’s residential centres. However the organisation has decided to increase its target for 2024 after receiving a record number of applications in 2023.

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A sponsorship of £180 would contribute towards the cost of a child’s holiday at one of the Urdd’s Residential Centres – either in Glan-llyn near Y Bala, Llangrannog in Ceredigion, Pentre Ifan in Pembrokeshire, or Cardiff Bay. The contribution will then be used for transport, accommodation, and food for a child for five days, as well as cover up to 35 exciting activities, including canoeing, raffting, zip wiring, motorcycles, skiing, swimming, singing and dancing.

Parents or schools will be able to apply for a holiday on behalf of a child when applications to the fund open in January 2024. The Urdd will be launching a link, which will then be shared out to primary and secondary schools across Wales.

“The cost-of-living crisis is not only putting a financial strain on families, but also affecting the emotional health and physical activity of children and young people,” said Siân Lewis, Chief Executive of the Urdd. "This year the Urdd received a record number of applications since establishing our Fund for All scheme, and we are so grateful to everyone who made it possible for us to offer holidays to over 100 children at our camps this summer.

"We have more than doubled our target for 2024 to offer holidays to 250 children and young people who might not otherwise get to enjoy a summer holiday. As a national youth organisation, we are constantly looking for ways to ensure that a family’s financial situation does not mean a child has to missing out on opportunities."