Each year 50 for Free receives several hundred applications from many worthy causes. We’ve compiled some hints and tips to help you maximise your application and improve your chances of being awarded a free stay for your charity.
General tips
- Make sure you explain why a Landmark stay in particular, over another short break or holiday, would most impact the people who you are applying on behalf of.
- Keep to the word limit! Be concise when writing your application. At the same time, your application should be long enough that you make a convincing statement as to why you should be awarded a free stay.
- The person completing the application form should have the authority and availability to validate and support in the coordination of the possible stay.
- Select a Landmark that you know is feasible for your guests to travel to either independently or with your support. Note that Landmark is not able to support with transport (with the exception of Lundy).
- Please only apply if you know you can make a stay happen from your side (including travel and food costs). Cancelling a confirmed stay may prevent another worthy organisation from benefiting.
Choosing your Landmark
We ask applicants to provide us with their first and second choice of property. Think carefully about your choice and discuss with your colleagues before making your selections.
- Select a property that you know is feasible for your possible guests to travel to independently or with your support.
- Floorplans of each building are available on our website. Please look at these carefully as some buildings that sleep your ideal number of people may not be suitable for all due to bedroom layouts and facilities.
- Larger buildings that accommodate more people, such as Goddards, Elton House and Howthwaite are some of the most requested buildings.
- Landmarks in Devon, Scotland and Wales are less requested.
- Weekend stays are the most requested by applicants. Consider whether you can make a mid-week stay (Monday-Friday) work with your group. You’ll enjoy an extra night stay during the week compared with a weekend stay too.
- For the 50 for Free stay on Lundy (mid-week Monday-Friday only), the successful beneficary will recieve a free transfer to the island by helicopter from North Devon.
Applications from large or national charities
- If you are applying from a large charity or organisation that works nationally, we’d encourage you to work internally to consolidate your application to avoid a large number of applicants from the same charity. It’s unlikely that we will award more than one stay to the same charity.
Applicants applying for team building or staff purposes
- Previous stays have been used as a team day or as a thank you to volunteers. Please detail in your application how your staff and volunteer will benefit and what activities the stay may entail.
- Please consider that 50 for Free aims to reach those in most need of a break. Consider how your requested stay purpose might stand out with a specific explanation of the impact it will have on those staying.
Finally, more information can be found in the T&C’s and FAQ’s on our website.
Email us: [email protected]