About Vitalise

Vitalise is a national charity providing respite breaks and other essential services for disabled people, visually impaired people, and carers.

Thousands of disabled people in the UK have complicated medical and care requirements that can make taking even a short break incredibly difficult and costly to arrange.

Thousands of the UK’s six million carers struggle to take a break when the disabled person they care for can’t take one.

Vitalise makes a difference. We provide accessible respite care and short breaks for disabled adults, children and carers at our Centres across the UK.

A Vitalise break gives disabled people the freedom to spend their time how they like, whether they choose to relax, to socialise, enjoy trips out or take part in the many activities on offer every week.

Our breaks mean carers can take much-needed time off from the 24-hour a day role of caring and take care of themselves, knowing their loved ones are safe and happy.

Four of our Centres provide guests with 24-hour nursing care on-call and personal support, however complex their disability or care needs. Our fifth Centre offers disabled children and adults the chance to take part in a huge range of accessible adventure activities.

We care for a wide range of physical disabilities and medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, spina bifida and cerebral palsy.

We run our own volunteer programme, recruiting volunteers of all ages, from all over the world, to live at our Centres and provide disabled guests with extra support and companionship.

Running our services is expensive. When you fundraise or make a donation you are enabling us to employ dedicated nursing and care staff, recruit and train thousands of volunteers, maintain the adapted coaches and minibuses that give our guests the freedom to go out and about and much, much more. Thank you!

Our history

In 1963 Mrs Joan Brander, while working for the WRVS, was trying to find accommodation for a family of five disabled people, so that the person who cared for them could have a few days rest.

Despite Mrs Brander’s tireless efforts she could not find anywhere that could take the family.  As a result the carer had to continue her demanding daily routine without a rest and shortly after had a breakdown. The family was permanently split up.

Angry and distressed that she had been unable to help, Mrs Brander knew she had to do something to stop the same thing happening to others.

And so, under her inspired leadership, Winged Fellowship Trust was born. As one disabled man told Mrs Brander, “Being taken on holiday by you is like being given wings!”