One hundred years since the completion of Salford Children’s Holiday Camp in 1926, the charity has this year gone through some changes as it heads towards a revamp midway through its centenary year. Part of the changes are adding to the team, increasing influence through additions to the board of trustees and putting in place infrastructure to support the renovation of the site over the next two years.

The camp’s board of trustees has appointed Justine McGuinn who also works for SEC Newgate on a part time basis as its administrator and ambassador. Justine’s role will involve working alongside the board of trustees to ensure that the charity is effectively administered and to continue to raise the profile of the charity, alongside the trustees.

Justine grew up in Salford and still lives in the city and whilst she didn’t personally visit the camp as a child, she was aware of it being known locally in the 1970’s and 1980’s as the “Jam Butty Camp”.

Justine’s background is in marketing and public relations specialising in the built environment sector where she’s worked for the last 40 years. She served on the Board of Trustees for 42^nd Street for a few years, a charity that supports young people under stress aged 11-25. Before working at Salford Children's Holiday Camp and SEC Newgate, Justine has worked in PR and marketing in the built environment since 1996.

“After 18 years of self-employment, I felt it was time to re-engage with the market in a different way. I wanted to be part of something meaningful alongside my other commitments and work with fantastic people making a difference to the children of Salford.

“There is something very compelling about connecting alongside others with a common goal based in integrity and purpose, not just profit, and I’m enjoying being part of the next phase of Salford Children’s Holiday Camp’s journey.”

In addition to Justine’s appointment, the trustees have also brought in a professional fundraising consultant, Five Thousand, which is steadily applying for grant funding for the proposed renovation project. Five Thousand Fundraising provides practical, flexible fundraising support for charities, CICs and community organisations that need high-quality funding applications, clearer fundraising plans and stronger routes into sustainable income. The service is led by Joe Hildred, an experienced fundraising consultant with a strong track record across various other charities and foundations across the North West.

The camp has been in operation for 100 years, originally set up to support “the poor children of Salford” and has successfully adhered to that mission and continues to do so. The buildings on site require replacement with new flexible accommodation to encourage families alongside keeping other buildings maintained and, to complete the project, a more sustainable team has been engaged.

The board of trustees has also been extended recently with the addition of several well-connected individuals within the construction sector who have a connection to Salford. These include Danny Johnson from Intrastack, Richard Coffey from FT Terrix, Zoe Brooke of The Save Construction Initiative / Ezrah Consulting, Charlotte Glover of Aldrock and Claire Bennett from Fiore Consulting.

Nick Abbott, who is the Chair of Trustees at Salford Children's Holiday Camp and Partner at Simon Fenton Partnership said;

“We’ve maintained the provision of holidays for young people from across Salford since we took over the camp from Salford City Council in 2014. It’s now time to create more modern facilities to cater for the changing needs of children, young carers and families in our community.

“We hope to increase our visibility and fundraising efforts as we near a start on site for ‘Salford by the Sea’, to maintain momentum up to a start on site. I’m excited to have Justine, Five Thousand and to have the support of our board of trustees as we move into the next 100 years of Salford Children’s Holiday Camp.”

Salford Children’s Holiday Camp is also currently seeking a teacher or someone with safeguarding expertise to join the board of trustees. Those interested in applying should email justine_mcguinn@hotmail.com to arrange a meeting with Nick Abbott.

The camp is seeking to raise a further £200,000 to complete the works on site and anyone, as an individual, or through corporate sponsorship wishing to donate to the camp should contact justine_mcguinn@hotmail.com or  bookings.schc@hotmail.com.

Salford Children's Holiday Camp was established in Prestatyn, North Wales in 1926. Since then, it has provided a holiday home for over 80,000 Salford children from all walks of life. Salford schools and groups always have priority booking up until October of the previous seasonal year, but any dates left after this period can be booked by schools and groups from outside of Salford.

Salford Children’s Holiday Camp (Charity Number 1200444) has a strong tradition of supporting vulnerable young people. In offering activities in a calm and supportive environment, reducing stress and social isolation. It is apparent that since the pandemic and entering a cost-of-living crisis, with reports of young people, experiencing social isolation and increasing mental health issues, there is still a great need to support vulnerable children. The camp earnestly wants to carry on its tradition of supporting young people and their families. To do this we urgently need your support. Please help us by donating towards the cost of a young person enabling them to experience a moment of ‘wellbeing’, away from the pressures they are experiencing at home.

We need your help! Are you or your company able to help us with sponsorship or donations? If you think you can help, then please get in touch by calling or texting us via Paul Blain 07798 726251 (Vice Chairman & Trustee) / Eddie Lewis 07802 225704 (Trustee) or alternatively contact by email: bookings.schc@hotmail.com.

 Please help us to ensure the children can have holidays in the future, DONATE HERE https://www.justgiving.com/charity/salfordchildrensholidaycamp