First choose your holiday then download a booking form here...
Please ensure you have read all the details below before completing the form. Next, complete the form, print it and send it off with your deposit cheque to the address shown in the holiday details page.
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What does the price include?
The price includes full board and accommodation, activities, equipment and excursions unless otherwise stated. The costs of the holidays are able to be kept to a minimum because the team pay as well! The holidays are based at outdoor centres, independent schools and conference centres at various locations in England and Wales unless otherwise stated. Accommodation arrangements are in separate sex bedrooms, generally sleeping between 2 and 8 young people.
What about travel?
The cost of travel to the holiday venue is not included in the fee unless indicated. Parents and guardians are responsible for the travel arrangements to and from the holiday venue. There may be organised transport arranged for you by the holiday leader and an adult will escort these groups. Those who travel independently on public transport will be met at the coach or railway station nearest to the holiday venue.
Who is on the team?
All the holidays are run by experienced adult team, some of whom are full-time Scripture Union workers, the majority are volunteers. There is a high ratio of team to young people, normally 1:4. Training of team is given prior to the holiday.
What about safety?
The issue of safety is taken seriously throughout the holiday. All outdoor pursuit activities are carried out under qualified supervision. This supervision may be by our own leaders, or leaders hired from a centre accompanied by our own. All recommended safety equipment is always worn, buoyancy aids for water activities and helmets for climbing, cycling or karting. Equipment is checked and maintained to a high standard. For water-based outdoor activity holidays you must be confident in water when wearing a buoyancy aid. Scripture Union Holidays is registered with the Adventure Activities Licensing Service as licensed to provide specified activities under the following headings: caving, climbing, trekking, watersports. Licence details can be confirmed by calling the Licensing Authority, tel 029 2075 5715.
Scripture Union has a Child Protection Policy and all leaders and team members are subject to this. New team members will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure issued by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). Details can be obtained from the National Office.
What if I can’t afford it?
The David Chilcott Fund assists young people from families on income-related state or council benefits to attend Christian holidays and conferences who would otherwise be unable to without financial help. Grants of up to £80, in total, per calendar year may be given to an applicant. For further information and an application form please contact the Booking Secretary of your chosen holiday, who will be pleased to assist you.
You must apply at least eight weeks before the holiday starts. If no grant is received your deposit will be refunded.
If nevertheless you still experience great hardship then please contact the Scripture Union National Office.
How do I book?
Complete the Booking Form and send it with a £30 non-returnable deposit (except where specified or for overseas holidays which are £75) to the Booking Secretary of the holiday of your choice. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Scripture Union Holidays’, unless booking for a West Runton holiday when cheques should be payable to ‘West Runton Camp’.
If your first choice holiday is full, your application will be automatically forwarded to your second choice, if you have given one. In the event of both being full your application will be returned to you.
You should check availability on your chosen holiday(s) by phoning either the Booking Secretary of your chosen holiday or the National Office on 01908 856177. Alternatively you can check here on the Scripture Union website.
The balance of your fees is due not later than 8 weeks before the holiday commences. If payment is not made by the due date, we reserve the right to cancel your holiday booking. Full payment should accompany bookings made within 8 weeks of the holiday.
Please note Booking Secretaries are often volunteers and may not be available during normal office hours.
Non UK residents only: All cheques must be made in sterling. For other method of payment options please ring David Cooper in the Scripture Union National Office:
- Tel: + 44 1908 856131 or
- Email: DaveC@scriptureunion.org.uk
What If I cancel?
The Booking Secretary should be informed immediately. If you cancel 8 weeks or less before the holiday commences you will be liable for the full fee. (See What about insurance?)
What if the holiday is cancelled?
In the unlikely event of a holiday having to be cancelled, or for some unforeseen reason curtailed, Scripture Union undertakes to refund fees already paid to participants and will bear all additional costs of repatriating participants in a holiday outside the UK. We have also arranged for the security of your money paid in the unlikely event of our insolvency. An independent trust has been set up to hold the fees until the completion of the holiday.
What about insurance?
Scripture Union is fully covered for public liability. You are not, however, insured against personal accident or injury as a result of an accident or loss of possessions. We therefore suggest those who feel that additional insurance is necessary to make their own arrangements. There is a scheme which has been arranged specially for Scripture Union holiday attendees and covers you for a wide range of activities.
As the insurance industry is now regulated by the Financial Services Authority, we are unable to provide advice on insurance matters. Full details and an application form can be sent to you on request - please tick the box on the Booking Form found on the edge of this insert (NB insurance is mandatory for overseas holidays).
School Christian Groups
Our primary aged holidays (under 12s) particularly welcome children from school Christian voluntary clubs, and priority in booking will be given to these. As group leaders you can reserve up to 10 places for children from your group by getting in touch with the Booking Secretary of the individual holiday. It is not necessary to have the names of the children for your provisional booking, but numbers must be confirmed and deposits paid by 1st February.
Important
Special needs
Whilst recognising that all children are special, some may have needs which require extra support. It is Scripture Union's aim to include such children on our holidays within the guidelines of suitable provision and staffing. To do this we ask all parents to give us full details of their child's special needs (i.e. disability / medical condition/ medication) at the time of booking in order that we can meet those needs to the best of our ability.
We must also be advised at the time of booking if a child currently has or has recently experienced any behavioural or social problems which may affect their own safety and / or the well-being of others on the holiday. Scripture Union reserves the right to:
- refuse any application
- alter or cancel a holiday where necessary,
- ask a young person to leave the holiday if their behaviour is incompatible with the general enjoyment and well-being of others, in which case the parent or guardian will be informed and collection arrangements must be made at their own expense and no refund will be given
Participation
We expect everyone who goes on the holiday to be fully involved in every aspect of the programme, including the informal teaching sessions and doing daily duties, e.g. washing up on some holidays.
Leaving holiday site
There are occasions when children may be allowed to leave the site in small groups unaccompanied by a leader for a short specified period of time. This will be arranged as appropriate to their age and the location. Reasonable measures will always be put in place for them to contact Holiday Leaders e.g. Mobile phone number or agreed rendezvous point.
Mobile phones
We do not encourage children to bring mobile phones to the holiday as experience has taught us that their use can cause homesickness and inconvenience to the smooth running of the programme. Our leaders do have permission to ban their use and even where they are permitted we expect them to be switched off and stored securely except at designated times.
Photographs
You may be photographed on the holiday! The photographs will only be used by SU or organisations in sympathy with SU to whom express permission may be granted. If you do not wish to be photographed please tell the photographer who will respect your wishes.
We cannot take responsibility for any photographs/video clips that are put onto social networking sites by guests on the holidays. Scripture Union may use photographs / video clips to promote its holidays on such sites. Please contact us if this is of concern to you.
Data protection
Scripture Union will hold your details on fi le but will not release the information to any third party. Some details may be shared with the team and an address list may be shared with the young people and team on your chosen holiday enabling them to make contact outside of the holiday but if you are not happy for this to happen please advise the holiday leader when booking.
Any comments?
We welcome your comments in order to continue to improve our service to you. If there is a problem with the holiday please write to us immediately and we will do our utmost to find a satisfactory solution. We would also like to hear from you with your positive comments.