The government is helping to provide a £600,000 to fund breaks for struggling families following the pandemic.
More than 800 holidays and trips will be available over the next few months will be funded by the ‘England for Everyone’ fund.
The fund has been created by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in association with Family Holiday Charity and VisitEngland.
The fund will provide short breaks to families from Monday to Friday or over a weekend who have not holidayed in four years or more.
Each trip, worth up to £450, includes accommodation, with allowances towards travel and food.
The Family Holiday Charity – previously the Family Holiday Association – will use the funding to arrange trips for families.
Families who may never have had a holiday can be referred to the charity for a weekend trip and will have a choice of where they will visit.
The fund will support parents, carers, and young people experiencing difficult times to get away, relax and enjoy themselves on a break in England, according to the DCMS.
VisitEngland is working closely with holiday parks to include free onsite activities.
Research by Family Holiday Charity found that short breaks can have benefits, with 85% of families finding children who had a break were going to school more regularly and 84% saying children were less isolated and getting more involved in their community since returning home.
Tourism minister Nigel Huddleston said: “Holidays provide a vital opportunity for people to reset, spend quality time together and improve their mental wellbeing. But for many families taking a break can be impossible.
“Following the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are helping families facing particularly tough times to have a much-needed break while supporting our brilliant tourism and hospitality sector.”
VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes said: “This partnership is a first for VisitEngland and will reach sectors of society who don’t have access to domestic holidays.
“We are delighted to be working with the Family Holiday Charity and delivering the ‘England for Everyone’ fund will support families facing tough times to enjoy our wonderful destinations and experiences and have a memorable holiday in England.
“We want everyone to be able to take a short family break and benefit from spending time together, reconnecting and recovering from the pandemic.”
Family Holiday Charity chief executive Kat Lee added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with DCMS and VisitEngland on this social tourism project that will see more than 800 families able to access a holiday.
“Access to a holiday is simply out of reach for many UK families, but this scheme will see children, mums, dads and carers able to take a holiday, some for the first time ever.
“Holidays bring wellbeing and mental health benefits, and the opportunity to try new things and think differently. On holiday families make memories that help when times get tough. And families who have experienced a Family Holiday Charity break are more confident, better able to engage with learning and play a more active part in their communities.”