Park Holidays gifts free holidays to military families
Major holiday parks group Park Holidays UK says it feels “proud and humbled” to be named among the UK’s top three supporters of British armed forces families. The company has this year donated more than 470 free holidays to military families who have been separated when one member was deployed away from home. Now its generosity, worth an estimated £77,000, has resulted in Park Holidays UK being honoured in the 2025 Soldiering On Awards in the Family Values category. The glittering awards ceremony was held on 22 October at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel where broadcaster Jeremy Vine acted as host. The Family Values award celebrates organisations and individuals who have demonstrated commitment, dedication and support to caring for others in the armed forces community. Park Holidays UK earned its place in the final three by teaming up with the Give Us Time charity which helps families reconnect after being apart for six months or more. The charity says that that getting back to normality can be a stressful time – but that a holiday wheneveryone can spend quality time together can do wonders for helping a family to re-adjust. Give Us Time ensures that the stays donated by Park Holidays UK are enjoyed by the most deserving families, prioritising the bereaved and those with mental or physical injuries. The group’s Brad May said the company feels grateful for the role it is able to play: “It’s a genuine privilege for us to be allowed to help Britain’s dedicated military personnel to re-discover their family bonds after a period of deployment,” he said. “Give Us Time recognises that family dynamics can change considerably when time is spent apart, and they do an amazing job in helping adults and youngsters find their feet again. “We would also like to say a big thank-you to our park teams for their important role in helping military families enjoy the best possible experience during their stays. “We look forward to continuing our relationship long into the future,” added Brad who is Chief Marketing Officer at Park Holidays UK. Give Us Time’s Charity Adviser Lt-Col (Rtd) Rupert Forrest MBE, Charity Adviser, said “The strategic partnership with Park Holidays has been an outstanding success for all involved. “But the most important beneficiaries are those who have had the opportunity to rest, recover, and reconnect thanks to the generosity of this wonderful organisation. “The feedback we have had is a testament to the high-quality environment Park Holidays provides, and their staff have been outstanding in their support to these families,” said Lt-Col Forrest. The charity was founded in by former Defence Secretary and Member of Parliament, Sir Liam Fox, who received cross-party support in the Commons for his plans. There is more information about the charity and its work at www.giveustime.org.uk – and parks in membership of Park Holidays UK can be discovered at www.ParkHolidays.com
BH&HPA to rebrand as HARPA
The British Holiday & Homes Park Association (BH&HPA) will change its name to HARPA at the conclusion of its 75th anniversary year in 2025. From January 2026, the official representative body of Britain’s parks industry will unveil a major re-brand of its identity as the Holiday and Residential Parks Association, or HARPA. The change will be launched at the association’s national conference in London when Devon park owner Claire Flower takes on the role of the organisation’s National Chair. READ MORE: HARPA conference ushers in new era Claire, a Director of Beverley Holidays, is part of the members’ Working Group that helped steer the creation and implementation of the new identity. HARPA, she says, is much more than a re-naming, and will lay the foundations of a body going forward with even greater dynamism to represent its members’ best interests. “Our Working Group was tasked with looking at both the past and the future of the association, and ensuring that all members are given the opportunity to have their voices heard,” said Claire. “Our goal was to create a representative, inclusive and modern identity that will continue to support and reinforce the vast range of work we do across the industry. “Becoming HARPA is an exciting and ambitious step that will bring us greater recognition and further empower our future in a fast changing political and social environment. “We offer our thanks to everyone who has helped shape our new identity and for being part of this positive change,” added Claire whose park recently celebrated its 65th anniversary. Also helping to direct the Working Group was Lancashire residential park owner Michael Ward who acted as representative for the association’s residential parks sector. “This has been a collaborative process involving all members from the start, and the result reflects both our heritage and our future direction,” said Michael. “We are embracing a new chapter for our organisation while upholding the importance of tradition and consistency. “The new acronym, HARPA, was carefully chosen to be distinctive and easily identifiable, and offers a more accurate and inclusive representation of who we are and what we do. “The logo and design options underwent thorough testing and refinement, with valuable input not only from the working group but also from the wider membership and a range of external stakeholders,” he said. Current National Chair Ian James said: “As Chairman, I have been immensely proud to serve an organisation which, for 75 years, has championed the interests of Britain’s parks with dedication and integrity. “The decision to become HARPA marks not just a change of name, but a bold step into the future for our industry. “I’m confident this new identity will strengthen our voice and secure the association’s place at the heart of our sector for decades to come.” The association’s Director General Debbie Walker said that the consensus for change underscored how closely the member-led organisation worked together and shared collective aims.
