Children enjoy week of fun at CHICKS

Thu, Aug 30th 2007, 15:00

More than 30 disadvantaged children from all over the UK have enjoyed an action packed break at the CHICKS children’s charity in Devon, with funding from the Redrow Foundation.

The donation of £20,000 from the charitable trust – set up by award winning housebuilder Redrow – was used to fund two respite breaks named the “Redrow Foundation Weeks,” at CHICKS Moorland retreat in Devon.

The youngsters, aged between 12 and 15, came from Scotland, North and South Wales, Gloucester, Manchester and the London area and participated in a host of activities including horse riding, surfing, rock climbing, archery, arts and crafts and gorge scrambling.

CHICKS (Country Holidays for Inner City Kids), was founded in 1992 and offers free six-day residential respite breaks for disadvantaged children who would not otherwise have a holiday that year. Offering a 2:1 child/adult ratio, the charity provides a unique experience of care, understanding and support with outdoor activities, games, team building and crafts at either one of its retreats in Devon and Cornwall.

Sarah Gillham, Trust Fundraiser for CHICKS, says: “We are so grateful for Redrow Foundation’s donation. Many of the children who use our service are either acting as full time carers for members of their family or come from a disadvantaged background and their visits to CHICKS’ are often the only break the children will have from their strained environment.”

The opening of ‘Moorland Retreat’ in the beautiful Devonshire countryside in 2006 will help CHICKS work towards its “Making Memories” appeal launched this year. CHICKS hopes the appeal will enable them to provide beneficial respite breaks to 1000 disadvantaged children every year by 2010, giving the children an increased sense of self worth and the opportunity to develop some happy, positive childhood memories

Paul Pedley, Executive Deputy Chairman for Redrow plc and a trustee of the Foundation, says “We’re proud to support a worthwhile and unique charity. The work that CHICKS does for children from across the UK is hugely impressive and it is touching to see youngsters who lead such challenging lives having a good time in a fun and stimulating environment.”

The Redrow Foundation was established to celebrate the housebuilder’s 50,000th legal completion and a £50 contribution is now made to the trust for every home sold. Many of these are in Devon and Cornwall, where Redrow has several new homes ventures.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support for the relief of poverty and sickness in the UK and, in particular, to providing accommodation and related assistance, including respite care, especially to children, the elderly and those who are sick or infirm.

To find out more about CHICKS, visit www.chicks.org.uk

To contact the Redrow Foundation or apply for funds, email: foundation@redrow.co.uk. Further details of the charitable trust, as well as Redrow’s new homes, also available at www.redrow.co.uk