We're over the moon after our holiday business Autism Friendly Caravans in Fleetwood won a TripAdvisor award
A Fylde coast family holiday business has won an award for providing holidays catering for children with additional needs.
Jen and Alan Berry set up Autism Friendly Caravans at Fleetwood’s Cala Gran site 10 years ago and since then it has proved a lifeline for families who often struggle to find suitable holiday accommodation.
They have just been awarded a Travellers Choice Award by TripAdvisor The pair, who have four children, know all about those challenges, as their youngest child Lucas, 17, has autism.
Now a bright teenager who loves following rugby, as a very young child he did struggle to cope with some everyday issues - and that made holiday choices a challenge.
Jen, 44 said: “Anyone who has a child with additional needs knows how difficult it can be if you want to go away.
“We adapted our caravan in Fleetwood for our own use, based around Lucas’ needs when he was younger.
“It was through my work in the NHS, working with families with additional needs, that I realised our caravan woud be perfect for other familes too, and it went from there.”
There are three-themed caravans on offer at the site, off Fleetwood Road - a Disney caravan, a Dr. Seuss van and a Mario van.
Each of them have sensory rooms and a safe space bedroom, the latter featuring a specially adapted bed with soft walls around it for safety.
The couple, from St Helens, were delighted after being awarded the TripaAdvisor award.
Sign up for our free newsletters now It is one of a clutch of awards they have won since setting the business up on the site, which is run by Haven Holidays. Jen said: “We were told about it when an email arrived - we were over the moon!
“The staff here at Fleetwood and the community staying here are lovely, it’s a great place.”