News about our Holidays for People with Autism and Learning Disabilities
It's Time To Celebrate
It’s time to celebrate!
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we are delighted and proud to announce that Go Provence Supported Holidays, have become a founder associate company of The Accessible Travel Partnership, a network of travel and leisure specialists dedicated and committed to making travel accessible and inclusive everywhere, to everyone. Add to this the financial and licensing protections of 360 Private Travel and you can begin to understand how we are now better placed than ever before to take our valued guests beyond their expectations, to realise their travel dreams and ambitions and to create exciting holiday opportunities that are truly without limits!
Why have we joined forces with the Accessible Travel Partnership?
Even greater support
Working with quality and approved destination management partners across the globe, who specialise in the supported area of travel and tourism, means we can offer even greater support to ensure you enjoy happy memorable experiences in the same spirit of adventure, friendship and fun that Go Provence has proudly become famous for.
Even more exciting choice of holidays
Our valued returning guests will know that in recent years we have been spreading our wings with Italy and Iceland now firmly on our annual travel menu, and now, with our new partnerships and associations, look out for an even more incredible and intrepid range of ‘once in a lifetime’ journeys and experiences to Asia, Africa, South America and beyond. Excited? We are!
Even better financial protection
We understand just how important and reassuring providing complete financial protection is to our guests. Well, as members of the Accessible Travel Partnership, Go Provence Supported Holidays enjoys the stringent industry accreditation’s and licences provided by 360 Private Travel, ensuring the very best financial protections and assurances are in place for you. Whichever holidays you book and wherever in the world you want to go.
Same faces. Same friends. Same fun!
What hasn’t changed is the same precious, considered support that we have delivered to our valued guests (now firm friends) over the past 10 years. Rest assured, that will never change, wherever in the world we might be! So, as we venture onwards and look forward to another 10 years of shared and unique times together - a community of friendship and fellowship, we will remain committed to turning your travel and holiday dreams into reality. That’s a promise. So join us. It’s going to be an incredible journey!
ATOL https://www.caa.co.uk/atol-protection/
VIRTUOSO https://www.virtuoso.com/
Pos'Ability Magazine Article on Go Provence
Click here to read the full article from Pos'Ability Download
Thank you George
Last week, Go Provence was informed by a parent, that her son, George, had passed away. He was 26 years old. George was a young man who was planning to come on a Go Provence holiday in the summer of 2015. It didn't happen so his mum planned on supporting him to come out this summer. His mother told us that she is asking people who wish to buy flowers for George to make a donation to Go Provence instead. She has asked specifically that these donations be used to help someone on a low income to come on one of our holidays.
A little bit about George. George was an extremely talented sportsman and played brilliant tennis, table tennis, football and cricket. All of his friends say how in awe they were of him at school because of his sporting prowess. After many years of difficulty, George was diagnosed at 19 years of age, with Asperger Syndrome. He suffered three psychotic breakdowns and was sectioned three times between the ages of 19 and 26. He was found Tuesday morning on the side of a train track having suffered electrocution and multiple injuries from a train.
This is a tragic story, and all of us at Go Provence wish to express our sincere condolences to George's family and friends. We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to George's family for thinking of Go Provence by giving the donations from George's funeral to someone on a low income who can receive the chance to enjoy one of our holidays. Thank you.
People who have kindly donated so far:
L Dangerfield
L Williams
Veronica Lam
Mr & Mrs Salmon
Mr & Mrs Duffin
A Herzig
Blue Dia Ltd
R and D Rookes
Steve Ferris
Total amount donated so far: £2180.00
Thank you.
Dimensions UK support worker wins Go Provence 'Busman's Holiday' competition
A Dimensions support worker has won a Busman's Holiday competition, to work for a week as Go Provence. Lynette Davies, from Hampshire, has chosen to spend her 'Busman's Holiday' on a Go Provence Adventure themed week in August of 2016. Lynette will be supporting people not just to have a memorable holiday but also paraglide, white water raft, pony trek, rock climb and kayak around the Gorges du Verdon, an area in Provence where Go Provence is based.
Dimesions and Go Provence worked together to create the competition, in it's second year now, to give Dimensions staff the chance to use their skills in a different environment. To enter the competition, entrants were simply asked to write one hundred and fifty words stating why they should be chosen to go on a Go Provence holiday. Lynette was chosen by the judges to be the best. This is what Lynette said about herself.
'I have been a support worker with Dimensions for 6 years and work with a number of different people, helping them to take part in activities in the community. I love nature and doing things outdoors, one of my favourite activities is kayaking. When I saw the competition I was very keen to enter but didn't expect to win, and was a bit nervous but my family told me I must apply! I had to write 150 words about why I should be chosen for the Go Provence holiday so I explained how I love outdoor activities and helping those I support to get involved in different things that give them a sense of achievement and how it would be great for my confidence. I was surprised to receive the email telling me I had won and am now very much looking forward to meeting everyone and experiencing Provence'.
Regional Manager Director, Luke Joy-Smith, who created the competition said:
'Dimensions have always placed strong importance on recognising and rewarding our staff wherever and whenever possible. Our partnership with Go Provence and this holiday opportunity provides Dimensions with a number of benefits. It's an unique opportunity that compliments our approach and reinforces our values (which Go Provence share). Furthermore, it provides invaluable learning which our successful employee brings back into the organisation and in turn helps to improve our overall learning and contributes in making a positive difference for the people we support.'
Ian Callen, Director of Go Provence, said of Lynette's competition win, 'We are really pleased that Lynette will be coming out to join us for a week in August. It is always valuable to us to get a new perspective on practise and methods. I know that the team and holiday makers love a new face too. We are also proud to be associated with Dimensions. They have a brillian track record with the support they give and are a progressive not for profit organisation who put the people that they support at the heart of their values.'
Have a look at the Dimensions website and find out more about them. Click here.
Go Provence is shortlisted for Social Care Inspiring Image
INSPIRING PHOTOGRAPH shortlisted in Community Care 'Inspiring Images of Social Care 2015', for the THIRD YEAR in a row. There are 25 other amazing images that have been shortlisted from various social care settings, 12 of which will be chosen for a calender. Take a look here and be inspired by these photographs. www.communitycare.co.uk/