Free To Be Kids - Travel Journal
Every time a customer books one of our vacations and opts in to our Trip for a Trip scheme, we organise a day trip for a disadvantaged young person somewhere around the world to see their local tourist sites, often for the first time.
Our latest trip
Over the Easter weekend in March 2026, 23 profoundly disadvantaged London children experienced a bushcraft day as a part of Free To Be Kids' Thrive Outside programme. The children took part in a bushcraft session run by qualified instructors experienced in working with children with additional needs in the outdoors. They learned how to safely build fires for camping under the stars and the crucial skill of how to expertly toast the perfect marshmallow. Many of the children had never spent a night outdoors or taken part in this type of hands-on outdoor learning and the majority had never left their area of London before.Some images from our trips with Free To Be Kids
Highlights from a previous trip:
Children took part in professionally led horse-riding sessions, learning grooming and riding techniques. For many, this was their first time interacting with horses and their very first opportunity to ride. Most had never seen a horse before other than on a screen. The activity was designed to build confidence, resilience, and teamwork, while providing a meaningful sense of achievement and joy. Children were paired with trained volunteers and instructors who guided them through grooming, mounting, and riding exercises. Some children were initially nervous, requiring gentle encouragement. By the end of the session, however, every child had successfully ridden their horse, demonstrated their new skills and learned they can achieve more than they had thought they could. As well as experiencing a moment of joy and excitement and building memories that will last for the long term.For children who often have limited access to safe outdoor spaces, experiences like this are rare and deeply significant. Activities such as horse-riding allow children to feel capable, adventurous, and proud, building self-confidence that extends far beyond the activity itself.
A thank you from Free To Be Kids
"We are so grateful to Responsible Travel for funding this Thrive Outside activity through the Trip for a Trip initiative. Experiences like this give children the opportunity to explore beyond their neighbourhoods, connect with nature, and experience a sense of wonder, joy and expanded horizons."
Previous trips that we have run with Free To Be Kids
23 disadvantaged children, took part in professionally led horse-riding sessions, learning grooming and riding techniques. For many, this was their first time interacting with horses and their very first opportunity to ride. Most had never seen a horse before other than on a screen.
23 disadvantaged children, including three Young Leaders, took part in a mountain biking experience led by qualified instructors. For many of the children, this was their first time cycling off-road or navigating woodland trails.
More about our partner Free To Be Kids
Free to Be Kids is a small London charity using joy, adventure and the outdoors to transform the mental health of some of London's most disadvantaged children. Referred by child protection social workers or schools, the majority of the children have never left their area of London before. Most have never seen the sea, walked up a hill, or met a cow! Many are struggling at school or at home and arrive feeling different, alone, unwanted or rejected. Free to Be's adventures in the outdoors instead help these children experience themselves as brave, talented, resourceful and successful - often for the first time in a long time, in turn transforming their story about who they are, and who they can be. Free to Be has been running for 10 years, and now supports some 250 particularly vulnerable London children each year. Thank you for supporting their crucial work.More about Trip for a Trip
With our Trip for a Trip scheme every customer who books with us can give an inspiring day trip to a child from a disadvantaged background. Since we started we’ve made a positive difference to over 8,000 children’s lives.- Read more about Trip for a Trip and other trips we've run.
- If you've booked a vacation via Responsible Travel, claim your booking gift to join our Trip for a Trip scheme.
- You can also make a donation to give more children a day out - just get in touch.
