CHICKS children’s charity has been awarded a grant of £43,296 to help fund its respite breaks for disadvantaged children.
CHICKS provides five-day respite breaks to disadvantaged children from across the UK, at its retreats in Cornwall, Devon and Derbyshire. Over the next three years, this grant will pay for three holidays, allowing 48 children to benefit from CHICKS’ services. The first installment of this grant recently funded a holiday in Tywardreath, Cornwall for sixteen children.
Helping children create happy memories
The children CHICKS supports come from a range of backgrounds; many are young carers or are living in poverty, while others are victims of bullying or abuse. The one thing they all have in common is the need for a break away from their circumstances. At CHICKS, they can try new activities and make happy childhood memories.
Annie Ashford-Barnden, trusts fundraising manager at CHICKS, said:
We’re incredibly grateful to the Freemasons of Cornwall for their generous support. We know that our breaks have a real impact on children’s lives, improving self-esteem, building confidence and encouraging better relationships with their peers.
Stephen Pearn, The Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Cornwall, said:
Our visit to CHICKS led us to understand the excellent work they do helping children who have not enjoyed the same opportunities as many others and for whom a welcome break like this can be such a magical and memorable experience. The Cornish Freemasons look forward to working together with this wonderful organisation in the future to support these special children.
About CHICKS
CHICKS aims to provide disadvantaged children from across the UK with free respite breaks. There are three retreats: one on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon; one on the south coast of Cornwall; and one near the Peak District in Derbyshire.
Many of the children cared for live in poverty, are victims of abuse or have been bereaved. Others live in care or are young carers, and are responsible for caring for sick or disabled relatives.