One childhood, one chance…

Our vision is for every child to make the most of their one chance at childhood. Since 1996 Honeypot has been working to enhance the lives of vulnerable children and young carers aged 5-12 years by providing respite breaks and on-going outreach support. We give young carers a break from demanding and stressful responsibilities at home and provide a safe, nurturing environment where children at risk can develop their full potential.

 

Who we help

Most of our children are young carers who juggle school and growing up with performing a surrogate adult role at home. Many care for a chronically or terminally ill loved one, or have a parent with drug, alcohol or mental health problems. Some will have been in a caring role from as young as 5 years old, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

 

They have no time to just be children. When not at school they might be cooking, washing, cleaning, changing dressings, bathing, or offering emotional support. This leaves little time for their own social and personal development, putting them at high risk of depression, anxiety, poor mental or physical health, social problems, isolation, bullying and absence from school.

 

We also work with vulnerable children from homes with extreme social, financial or emotional challenges. They are often victims of abuse or neglect and many will be on the Child Protection Register. Like young carers, they are often left to fend for themselves with no opportunity to live a normal childhood. For them, going on a trip to the cinema or to the beach is a rarity. Having a break away from their stressful home environment is virtually unknown.

 

This is where Honeypot comes in. Each year we support hundreds of children from Scotland, London and the South of England. We hope to eventually extend our reach to other areas of the UK.

 

How we help
The first stage is a referral from someone already working with a child in need: a school, social worker, doctor, health visitor, community organisation or young carer support group. We discuss the child’s case to ensure they meet our eligibility criteria, which is deliberately broad to make sure the largest number of children can benefit from our service.

A home visit is then arranged with the child and their family, during which we show everyone involved pictures of Honeypot House and explain what a respite break involves. The aim is to put everyone's mind at rest and to get them excited about their holiday. It is also a great opportunity to learn more about the child’s personality, their likes and dislikes, hobbies and their expectations of what to find at Honeypot.

Once everyone is happy to proceed, we arrange for the child to join a group of up to twelve other children, all from the same area if possible, to come to Honeypot House for a holiday. Our minibus will collect them and bring them home after their break. In the case of young carers, arrangements are made to ensure that their loved one is taken care of while they are away.

Honeypot House is set within seven acres of beautiful land on the edge of the New Forest. Activities such as riding a bike, learning to swim, paddling at the beach, painting a picture, or simply playing freely in the fresh air without the need to worry are often experienced for the first time by the children who visit us.