Who are we?

Birmingham PHAB Camps is a small, totally voluntary, organisation whose aim is to encourage the integration of disabled and able-bodied children and young people. We arrange holidays for groups of twenty or so people, in various age groups, during July and August. Half of the participants have disabilities and half are able-bodied. We also arrange holidays for groups of children who have severe multiple disabilities. Volunteer helpers staff the holidays.

We try to provide a range of stimulating activities from canoeing and archery to raft building and rope walks, along with visits to theme parks, farms and the swimming pool. The young people are given the opportunity to participate in new and challenging experiences and everyone can take part together, no matter what their ability. Many of the children involved have no other opportunity of a holiday.

Families are asked to contribute only what they can afford towards the cost of a PHAB holiday — This leaves the Trustees with a lot of fund-raising to do as well as organizing all the holidays. Everyone works voluntarily so there are no salaries to pay and very few expenses are claimed. Our administration costs are less than 1% of our total expenditure each year.

The Trustees, both disabled and able-bodied, include: a nurse, an accountant, a student, an engineer, a carpenter and several people who work with children. The majority of the Trustees act as leaders or volunteers on the holidays as well as being involved, all year round, in the organisation and fund-raising activities.

A copy of our annual report and accounts may be obtained by contacting the treasurer. His details are on the contact page.

Birmingham's Lord Mayor Supports Birmingham PHAB Camps

Birmingham's new Lord Mayor, Len Gregory has selected us as one of the four charities he will support as part of his Charity Appeal.

At Len's official installation, Maxine Wallis, our Chairperson, said: “It’s a huge honour and privilege to be selected as one of the Lord Mayor’s charities this year and we are really excited about it. Ours is a small independent charity whose aim is to promote integration between disabled and non-disabled children by providing a series of holidays where everyone takes part together as equals. We have no paid staff at all – everyone who works for the charity is a volunteer.

“We believe that taking part in one of our holidays is a life changing and unforgettable experience for everyone involved and we are really passionate about the work we do. I hope that by being chosen as one the Lord Mayor’s charities it will raise our profile in the local and wider communities.”

On Holiday

We're all now on holiday! to see where we are, have a look at our Camps page.