Who we are
We started out as a group of family and friends, three of whom battled with ovarian and breast cancer. They are still with us in spirit and will remain our inspiration and motivation. As we have grown new property owners, referrers and supporters have joined us,
Why?
In 2011 Angela Sturgeon was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. During her illness Ange campaigned tirelessly, raising over £42,000 for various cancer charities. She loved spending precious time away with family and friends where she could take a break from hospitals, feel normal again and build lasting memories. She wanted to help others do the same, so raised a further £13,000 to set up A Bit of a Break.
Supporters
We couldn’t do it all without the generosity of organisations who have completely bought in to the concept of A Bit of a Break and helped us in many different ways. If you think you could be a supporter, please contact paula@abitofabreak.com for more information.
Keelham Farm Shop donates a specially prepared bumper food hamper for each and every guest taking a holiday with A Bit of a Break. They hand-pick a range of products from their 400 local suppliers and producers to create a mix of special treats and fresh fruit for our guests to enjoy. To be able to provide all our guests with a food hamper for their breaks was one of Ange’s priorities and the feedback that we have received from our guests show how much they are appreciated. Thank you, Keelham Farm Shop, for your kindness and generosity. Your dedication to helping the community is massively appreciated.
This Lake District based holiday lettings agency has a collection of 300 cottages to offer in the most sought-after parts of the National Park. The agency has championed A Bit of a Break since 2018 and twelve of its property owners now generously offer the use of their holiday home for our guests’ enjoyment. Some properties are in village centres, others are more remote. Some are dog-friendly, others have ground floor bedrooms which is sometimes important for our guests. Check out our guests’ testimonials to see what these breaks really mean. Thank you, Heart of the Lakes; you are fabulous!
From the very outset, Carers’ Resource has embraced the concept of A Bit of a Break, helped us get set up and held our hand through our first two years. Since becoming a registered charity in our own right in 2018, Carers’ Resource continues to provide A Bit of a Break with an office space and postal address for referrals. Thank you, Carers’ Resource, for sharing your huge expertise with us and for your ongoing guidance and support.
The team
In 2018, A Bit of a Break registered as a Charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Our Trustees are:
Kim Reddyhoff
Kim, now retired, has a background in social work, where she practiced for twenty five plus years, latterly in palliative care.
Paula Hunt
Paula has an NHS/charity background and has more recently worked with her husband running their own holiday cottage business.
Matthew Sturgeon
Architect, Cyclist, Dad and Lighthouse collector.
Helen Pilling
Having worked as a Solicitor, Helen spent time in the voluntary and education sectors before returning to the Legal profession.
All of our Trustees also volunteer for the Charity and are assisted by:
Susan Arkell
The most recent volunteer to join the team. She has worked as a teacher and most recently supported young carers at The Carers’ Resource.
Contact us
Charity queries
Helen Pilling – helen@abitofabreak.com 07990 977040
Referrals
Kim Reddyhoff – kim@abitofabreak.com 07516 315602
Properties
Paula Hunt – paula@abitofabreak.com 07801 860565
Fundraising
Susan Arkell – susan@abitofabreak.com
General/other queries
Matthew Sturgeon – matthew@abitofabreak.com 07939 295230
