A Bit of a Break

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A Bit of a Break

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We source unfilled weeks in holiday properties to gift to people with a palliative diagnosis We would love to hear from you!

A Bit of a Break is the legacy of Angela Sturgeon who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011 and campaign tirelessly, raising a total of over £50,000 for cancer-related charities. She loved spending precious time away with her family and friends where she could have a break from hospitals and treatment, feel normal again and build lasting memories. Keen to help others in a similar situation, Angela, along with a small group of family and friends, set up A Bit of a Break to do just that. Today, A Bit of a Break is a registered charity that is small but growing as new property owners, referrers and supporters have joined us. So far, we have over 25 holiday properties available to us in The Lake District, Northumberland, the Yorkshire Coast and around the Yorkshire Dales allowing us to offer more stays year on year to people living with terminal illness. We work directly with health and social care professionals who refer our guests so we understand their needs and can match them with a suitable holiday property. As a charity, A Bit of a Break relies on its supporters and donors to raise the funds needed to enable these breaks to happen. To talk to us about making a one-off donation, becoming a regular donor, or fundraising for us please get in touch with us at [email protected]. Or if you have a holiday property and could donate a week, please contact us at [email protected] for more information.

18/10/2026

Behind the scenes we’re busy working on our fundraising campaigns! Big thanks to Harriet Mason Harriet Mason | Writer & Storyteller at Moor Communications for coordinating the meeting and welcome to Rachel Hagan our most recently joined Trustee.🤝🏻💙

02/10/2026

A Bit Of A Break is growing fast. From our usual 12-18 breaks (approx) a year we managed to successfully fulfill 42 breaks in 2025 and are on track for 75 in 2026! Here’s one of this year’s successful breaks in action - Laura (in her early 30s) and her family.💙

Providing more breaks costs more money and means we’re always looking for more property owners to offer their unfilled space. So please donate if you can by following this link - https://www.justgiving.com/charity/abitofabreak

We’re especially looking for holiday homes with ground floor bedrooms and bathrooms! If you want to become our property partner don’t hesitate to e-mail Paula at [email protected] Thank you!

24/09/2026

Today is World Cancer Research Day. A big round of applause to every research scientist and medic who dedicates their life to researching and treating this illness. As a charity helping people living with cancers and facing a palliative diagnosis we’d love nothing more than to see more successful medications and treatments.💙

Read more on our website about how A Bit of a Break gives cancer patients a chance to escape for just a few days when life is so tough - https://abitofabreak.com/about-us/

Every donation, however small, helps towards our cause. Thank you! Donate here - https://www.justgiving.com/charity/abitofabreak

12/09/2026

Calling owners of holiday properties! Now the summer holiday period is over you may have a few unfilled spaces in your bookings calendar. Please contact us if you could offer this to someone living with a palliative illness who could really benefit from a break. We cover your cleaning, laundry and utilities costs and in turn you will make an enormous difference to a family at a difficult time in their lives.

Learn more about our charity over on https://abitofabreak.com/ and e-mail Paula at [email protected] if you would like to become our property partner!

05/09/2026

Any mention of A Bit Of a Break is always appreciated and we’d like to thank our local Ilkley Gazette for publishing this lovely piece about us in their recent issue! You are welcome to visit their website to read the whole article here: https://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/26504600.ilkley-charity-a-bit-break-appeals-support/

Make sure to visit our website to learn more about the charity, how to donate towards our aim of helping people undergoing palliative care, and see how to become our partner or give access to use your property to set up a wonderful break for people with terminal diagnosis: https://abitofabreak.com/
Let’s make a change together!💙

29/08/2026

Our Worth Valley Support Group’s Summer Charity Fayre in the Haworth Old School Rooms raised over £1300! How fabulous! Massive thanks to all those involved for such a successful event. These funds mean more breaks for more people living with a palliative diagnosis.

No donation is too big or too small but will always help make a huge difference. If you would like to join us in providing even more breaks for some lovely families who have been through a lot please follow the link in our bio and drop a donation today!

08/04/2026

182 days of bookings each year - that's equivalent to 26 full weeks. A tough target in the current holiday-lets market. Owners who fall short can be stung for double-rate council tax. This is the harsh reality in North Wales, the Yorkshire Coast and maybe other areas too.

Can we 'help' you to increase bookings? Some local councils allow owners to donate up to 14 days of free holidays to charity to reach their 182 day target.

Contact [email protected] if donating short breaks to us at A Bit of a Break could help you hit your target. Getting away with A Bit of a Break means people with a palliative diagnosis can spend precious time with loved ones making lasting memories. It's a win-win.

www.abitofabreak.com

13/12/2025

Thank you to Ilkley's wonderful independent bookshop, The Grove Bookshop for this week's fundraiser.

Your kind donation will help more families dealing with a palliative diagnosis to get away on a much needed break!

11/12/2025

Thanks to Kate and Ollie for their Crafts & Honey Christmas gathering which raised a massive £1,300 in just one evening!

The money will be shared with another charity close to our hearts - Hospice Africa. It all means more support for more people with a palliative diagnosis.

Those incredible Understated cycling ladies have so many crafting talents and Ollie's bees had a bumper year. There's a huge amount of work behind the scenes to make a successful evening like this so big thanks and much love to each and everyone who contributed.

02/12/2025

An amazing seven breaks taken in October - a monthly record for us!

The Puffin's Burrow in Alnwick, Northumberland is a particular favourite - a lovely first floor apartment with lift access and outdoor space with its large patio. Thanks to owners Dawn and Ian for their generosity in gifting the break and to Coquet Cottages too.

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Ilkley

Website

http://www.abitofabreak.com/

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