Rob's Place: Appeal for a Free Holiday Home at Shorefield

A Fareham care business owner living with incurable cancer is raising money for a holiday home where others in the same position could take a restful break, free of charge. Rob Fielder hopes to create Rob's Place at Shorefield Country Park in the New Forest, according to The Winchester Post.

The idea behind Rob's Place

Rob has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. According to his appeal page, as reported by The Winchester Post, he was diagnosed in November 2025, began palliative chemotherapy, and has worked in care since 1981.

He told the paper the idea came one Saturday afternoon when he was too unwell to go to watch Saints play Derby. He said: "I began thinking about how a terminal diagnosis can lead to a significant reduction in income." He explained that this can mean people living with a terminal illness are unable to afford a holiday or a restful break.

Why Shorefield

Rob visited Shorefield earlier this year. He said: "The area is full of nature and felt like a wonderfully relaxing retreat. Being there helped me unwind, and for a while I wasn't worrying about dying and leaving behind everything I love."

He added that the park is "in the heart of the New Forest" and said: "I felt safe and secure, and I could see it being the perfect sanctuary when life gets tougher for me."

What the holiday home would offer

• Free stays of up to a week for people living with terminal cancer, along with their families and carers.
• Guests would pay for their own travel, food, drink and entertainment.
• The aim is to buy a holiday home on the park, which Rob puts at around £100,000. He said that if additional funding is raised, a lodge would also be considered, with the decision based on affordability and value for money.

Where the appeal stands

The Winchester Post reported that the GoFundMe appeal stood at £24,524 from 1,035 donations when it checked on 21 October 2026, against a target of £120,000. The total changes daily.

Rob said forms have been completed to register as a Community Interest Company and to submit an application to the Charity Commission, and they are waiting to add the details of one of the trustees before sending them. Rob's Place will be run separately from his care business, Redleif Care.

There is no opening date yet. Rob said: "Our start date will depend on how quickly we can raise the additional funding required." The paper also reports that the appeal page says if the money needed is not raised, whatever has been given will go to a charity that shares the aim.

Anyone who would like to support the appeal can find it on the Rob's Place GoFundMe page.

It is not the first time a holiday home has been set aside for people going through a difficult time. We previously covered the second Lauren's Legacy charity lodge in Scarborough.

If you own a holiday home at Shorefield

If you are an owner at Shorefield and are ever thinking about what comes next, our practical guide to selling a caravan or lodge at Shorefield may help. Static Caravan Buyer offers a free, no-obligation valuation and can help with the park paperwork. We charge no commission when we buy your caravan. We aim to contact you within 24 hours and make an offer within 48 hours of that contact. Payment is made on collection day before the caravan is loaded. You can reach us on 0800 644 5000.

Source: The Winchester Post, 21 October 2026.