Family FAQs
We only accept nominations from medical or educational professionals. We do not accept nominations from family members or guardians. If a Dreamflight holiday is something you think your child would benefit from, please ask their main medical contact to visit our website for more details on how to nominate a child.
For the Orlando trip, children must be aged between 8 and 14 on the date of travel.
For the UK trip, children must be aged between 8 and 16 on the date of travel.
We accept nominations for children with a wide range of illnesses and disabilities, including (but not limited to) Cystic Fibrosis, Cerebral Palsy, cancers, epilepsy, cardiac issues, haemophilia and amputees.
We accept nominations for children in full time wheelchairs for all of our trips.
Unfortunately we don’t accept nominations for autistic children or those with severe behavioural issues or sickle cell anaemia, as we have found over the years that Dreamflight is not the right experience for these children.
To avoid disappointment, we strongly recommend that nominations are not discussed with children until the selection process is complete. We receive a large number of nominations each year, which are reviewed by Dreamflight’s Medical Director and our Group Leaders. During the selection process a member of the Dreamflight office team, or a regional Dreamflight Group Leader may contact the nominator to gain more information if needed. Once the selections have been made a regional Group Leader or the Dreamflight Office will contact the nominator directly to let them know the outcome.
We aim to invite those children selected for the UK trip by early December. If selected, nominators will be informed, and the child will receive an invitation in the post, along with forms for the parent/guardian to complete and return. Once invited, pre-trip online meetings are arranged so families, guardians and Dreamflight children can meet each other and have any questions answered. Dreamflight volunteers and the office are always on hand to support.
We aim to invite those children selected for the Orlando trip by early July. If selected, nominators will be informed, and children are allocated to one of our 12 regional UK groups and will receive an invitation in the post, along with forms for the parent/guardian to complete and return. Once invited, pre-trip meetings are arranged so families, guardians and Dreamflight children can meet their groups and have any questions answered. Dreamflight Group Leaders and the office are always on hand to support.
We aim to send invitations out in early December for the UK trip, and early summer for the Orlando trip. We recommend that children are not told about the trip until an invitation arrives, to avoid disappointment.
No! Dreamflight funds all aspects of the child’s experience, including travel, accommodation, meals and refreshments. It is a fully-funded holiday.
However, we do rely very heavily on volunteers and supporters to help us raise the funds we need each year. When they are able to, some families choose to fundraise for Dreamflight and we are very grateful to them. But there is no obligation for a family to fundraise for Dreamflight.
Families don’t accompany the children on Dreamflight holidays. Instead the children are supported by a team of volunteers, including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and non-medical guides. This experience helps to develop a child’s independence and confidence. Some children are nervous to begin with, but we’re very used to helping them to settle in, make friends and have fun!
