The Story of Dream-A-Way
Dream-A-Way's aim is to assist people living in Devon, Cornwall and the Scilly Isles with physical and learning difficulties.
We provide holidays and day trips - whether it is fulfilling a lifetime dream, experiencing great opportunities or just having 'time out' from daily routines. People of all ages and from around the South West are helped in every way possible to have a Dream-A-Way holiday.
The volunteer committee members use their time to raise money to fund the trips and also actively seek out opportunities to help people throughout the South West.
The opportunity for the Dream-A-Way Team and our friends to raise money and help others has always been the driving force behind the charity. What makes this charity so extra special is that the volunteers provide their time and services freely - and that the charity does not incur any administration costs. No persons associated with Dream-A-Way receive any honoraria, payments or expenses for their work.
Our Promise
More than 99 % of all funds raised goes straight towards helping others. Dream-A-Way prides itself on giving all the money to funding trips and not spending on overheads or taking any payment or expenses. It's not always easy but it is possible - and very rewarding!
Over 8,000 people have benefited since our launch in 1993 and in 1999 Dream-A-Way purchased a luxury caravan at the Haven Holiday Park at Devon Cliffs, Sandy Bay, near Exmouth in Devon. In 2010 we purchased our eighth luxury holiday home to help even more people to have a Dream-A-Way holiday !
Families, individuals and groups have been sent to places throughout the UK, Europe and the rest of the world providing lasting memories for all.
To find out more about the holidays we provide, take a look at our Holidays Section.
How We started
Many people often want to get involved in helping others - we talk about it, we think about it..but we sometimes don't know how to get involved.
That is what happened in 1993 when a group of ten friends started discussing ways to help others without high administrative costs. We decided to form Dream-A-Way - which aims to provide holidays and day trips for people with physical and learning difficulties.
Dream-A-Way succeeded beyond our wildest dreams - more than 99% of all money raised goes straight towards providing holidays and nothing is spent on expenses or payments to helpers. Some of the people who originally set up the committee are still involved and everyone in Dream-A-Way is a volunteer.
Milestones
Dream-A-Way has reached several milestones since our journey began in 1993. Some of our highlights include:
First Luxury Holiday Caravan Purchased
We purchased our first Luxury Holiday Caravan in 1999 at the Haven
holiday park at Devon Cliffs, Sandy Bay near Exmouth and have
subsequently strengthened our property base here to eight caravans, allowing us
to provide many holiday opportunities every year to all our special guests
who deserve them so greatly. Read more.
Expansion or our Luxury Holiday Caravan Portfolio (number nine!) to Ladram
Bay
New for 2012 we have purchased our ninth Luxury Holiday Caravan -
this time at the award winning Ladram Bay near Budleigh Salterton.
This van compliments the eight we own at the Haven park at Devon Cliffs.
Queens Award for Voluntary Service
In June 2008 Dream-A-Way was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service -
The MBE for Volunteer Groups (Formerly The Queen's Golden Jubilee Award).
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to
volunteer groups across the UK for outstanding work done in their local
communities.
You can read all about how Dream-A-Way won the award here.
Lord Mayor of Exeter's Charity of the Year 2009-2010
Dream-A-Way was selected as the Lord Mayor of Exeter's Charity of
the Year for 2009-2010. We took full advantage of this opportunity to work
alongside the Mayor and his excellent team and with their support a
magnificent total of over £50,000 was raised! Read more.
First £1million in Fundraising!
Early in 2010 we reached our first £1million in fundraising. This
is a massive achievement for a charity operated completely by volunteers
and is testament to the strength of the team and the wonderful support of
the local community and many companies and individuals who are dedicated
to helping those less fortunate than ourselves. The hard work doesn't stop
there though. The Dream-A-Way team and our friends are dedicated to
continuing to raise money and help as many people as possible.
Read more.
Affiliation with HMS
Defender
HMS Defender and her crew have honoured Dream-A-Way by selecting
the charity as one of its main beneficiaries. Defender is one of the Royal
Navy's most advanced brand new warships which has close links to Exeter
and Glasgow. We are delighted to be supported by Defender and her crew and
are looking forward to a very productive and beneficial partnership.
Read more.
To see the impact the work
that Dream-A-Way has, take a look at a range of
thank you letters & cards and
testimonials from our very special and
deserving clients.