Welcome to our Magical Days Out application page.

We're glad you found us!

Applications for Magical Days Out are open, with a current lead time of 8 weeks from the date of application. This is subject to change so please check back here for updates.

Due to their seasonality, we are no longer accepting applications for the following attractions:

Alton Towers Resort

Chessington World of Adventures Resort

LEGOLAND Windsor Resort

Thorpe Park Resort

Except in life limiting circumstances - applications from families looking to apply for Magical Days Out for children with terminal illnesses or diagnoses will be assessed within 10 days of applying.

We ask you to carefully read all the information below BEFORE submitting your application. The charity reserves the right to cancel any application that does not meet our terms and conditions.

Click here to Apply Today

Please read all of the information below

Know Before You Apply

The child you are applying on behalf of will be eligible if they;

1) Are aged 2-18 years old, and

2) Are currently facing one of the below:

Serious/Long-term Illness

Registered disability

Living in a permanent or temporary care home

Living in foster care

Recently adopted

Impacted by domestic violence/abuse/bullying

Has a terminally ill parent/legal guardian/sibling

Has a recently deceased parent/legal guardian/sibling

Registered Young Carer

If you would like to apply for a Magical Day Out there are some specific forms of documentation that we will need from you. All of the information we need must be sent on official headed paper, with an official name and logo on it. It must also include the child’s full name, date of birth (or the age of the child if documentation is dated) and confirmation of diagnosis/reason.

If you are applying due to disability you will need to provide either:

  • A hospital letter 
  • A letter from a senior teacher at the school the child is in attendance, or
  • A statement of Educational Needs (SEN) or Educational, Health & Care Plan (EHCP).

If you are applying for a child who is in care you will need to provide one of the below:

  • A letter from the foster agency
  • Letter from the local authority
  • If the foster child has a serious long-term illness or disability alternatively you can supply a hospital letter (please see above under disability)
  • Applications for children in a care home must be made by the care home directly. If you are a team member of the care home please apply via the organisation application form
  • All letters must be dated within the last year

If you are applying for a child who has been recently adopted you will need to provide either:

  • An adoption certificate or
  • A letter from the adoption agency
  • All certificates and letters must be dated with the last five years.

If you are applying on behalf of a child impacted by domestic violence/abuse/bullying you will need to provide either:

  • Court Order or any letter from court/police/solicitor/refuge or
  • Letter from the Headteacher of the school the child is in attendance of

If you are applying for a child who has a terminally ill parent/guardian/sibling you will need to provide:

  • A hospital letter 
  • We also require supporting evidence to confirm that the child detailed on the application is the sibling or child of the person who is ill. This can be in the form of a birth certificate or a tax credit form if it’s a sibling who has a terminal illness (the tax credit must detail both children’s names).

If you are applying for a child who is a young carer you must provide either:

  • A letter from a young carer’s organisation or
  • A letter from the Headteacher/senior teacher at their school
  • If the child is not a registered young carer then we will require paperwork to show the parent/guardian diagnosis and tax credit, birth certificate or similar to prove parent/guardianship of the child.

If you are applying for a child who has a recently deceased parent you will need to provide:

  • A copy of the child's birth certificate including the deceased parent's name
  • A copy of the parent's death certificate. 
  • Should you not be registered on the child's birth certificate you will need to provide a change of guardianship or official document with the parents and child's name on it. 

We cannot accept the following as proof of condition or circumstance for a Magical Day Out:

  • DLA's, Personal Independence Payments, or DWP letters
  • Badges or children's disability registration passes
  • Appointment letters
  • Doctors' surgery letters without headed paper and logos
  • Handwritten letters with handwritten children's details
  • Documents in Microsoft Word format

Applications submitted with the above documentation cannot be assessed and will be cancelled.

Please note: We are committed to providing a professional and fair charity service to everyone who applies for a Magical Day Out. In return, we ask that all applicants respect our applications team. We won’t tolerate threatening, abusive or violent behaviour; and no member of the Merlin’s Magic Wand team will be required to or feel obliged to reply to any application or communication that uses threatening or abusive language.

We hope you have a #magicaltime

Thorpe Wand 22
Health