The holiday club is invaluable for the parents of children with special needs.  In the school holidays these children cannot access mainstream holiday clubs, nor can they play at friends’ houses or just enjoy the park with friends or even with their parents.  Often the children can have erratic behaviour so parents are nervous about taking their children out and about. This is where holiday club is so important.  It gets the children out of the house.  It is of huge benefit to the children as it stimulates them with activities on and off site and gives them time with their friends.  It also allows the parents some respite and gives them the chance to spend time with their other children. As one parent explains; “For my family, and I am certain every other family at the holiday club, it is a facility which we would struggle to survive without.  My son enjoys attending and it takes him away from the home and into the community and allows my wife and myself to spend time with our other son.  It means school holiday time can allow something of a re-charge away from the usual pressure of parenting a child with special needs”. The money we raise from the swimathon supports this valuable resource and pays for the outings which would otherwise be impossible for many of the children who attend.