Making a difference

Inspiring hope in disadvantaged children, helping them forge friendships and memories, it’s children’s charity CHICKS.

CHICKS provides free residential respite breaks for disadvantaged children from across the UK, including hundreds from many areas in Cornwall. The children, aged between 8 and 15, come from a variety of backgrounds, many living in poverty, suffering from neglect, and even serving as young carers for dependant relatives. Others have been bereaved, bullied, physically or emotionally abused, but one thing they all have in common is how much they benefit from a break away from their circumstances where they can simply be children.

“My best bit of the week was meeting everyone, because knowing there are good people out there makes me feel better about myself.”

CHICKS owns three retreats, including the ‘Coastal Retreat’ in Tywardreath, where children can enjoy five days of fun, laughter and excitement. Their week at CHICKS is filled with new experiences and involves activities such as swimming, surfing, climbing, kayaking and horse riding. Each break is staffed with a highly-trained Respite Break Team of four, who are helped by up to six volunteers. The adults on the break support the children throughout the week, encouraging them to realise their potential and aiding them in their peer interactions. This year, the CHICKS breaks are being held from February to December, with an extra-special break over Christmas week.

One child that CHICKS has supported is 14-year old Robin (name changed to protect identity) from Cornwall. Robin lives in poverty and has been the victim of severe bullying at school, something that has greatly affected his confidence. Robin enjoyed a wonderful week at CHICKS, where he tried lots of activities that were new to him and made a lot of new friends. At the end of his week he said: “My best bit of the week was meeting everyone, because knowing there are good people out there makes me feel better about myself.”

Established in 1992, CHICKS has been running breaks for more than 25 years, during which time it’s grown from supporting 25 children in the summer to over 800 every year. The breaks are free to every child who visits, but cost, on average, £970 per child. The charity receives no government funding and therefore relies solely on donations to fund the respite breaks that are so vital to the children they support. The team also requires hundreds of volunteers (aged 18 and over) to support both the children and adults on the breaks, as well as help with admin support and assist with fundraising activities, so if you know anybody who’d like to help, either with fundraising, by donating, or by volunteering on a CHICKS break, please spread the word about the work this wonderful charity is doing.