Ruddi's Retreat is a small charity that provides respite holidays at one of 3 caravans based at Primrose Valley, Filey for children and their families living with cancer, life limiting illness, or bereavement. In many cases when such a child comes out of active treatment in hospital the after effects on the family are severe, often making it impossible to afford a break just when it would benefit them most. The location of the caravans is near a hospital in case this is needed and the caravans are heavily modified to cater for the special needs of their visitors. Particularly after active hospital treatment, a break provides a significant reduction in stress for the whole family, health benefits for the child suffering the illness and a positive impact on mental and emotional health for all, including siblings. Occasionally the child only has months to live.

Since their acquisition of a third caravan RR aims to provide a holiday for 200 families each year. RR owns and manages the three caravans and, since 2012, have helped hundreds of families. Demand continues to increase and in addition to raising funds for ongoing costs, RR are hoping to purchase a fourth specially equipped caravan at an approximate cost of £45,000. The charity came about in 2011 when the mother of Ruddi Waterworth-Jones, a 6 month old baby who had cancer, received a holiday from another charity after his extensive hospital treatment and decided to help others in a similar way. Ruddi survived and still has many limitations and cannot walk far, but thoroughly enjoys school and has many friends. The BWCF was very pleased to support Ruddi’s Retreat in 2016, and has since made a further 3-year grant.