CHICKSMaking Memories...

...Giving Hope

CHICKS Magazine Autumn 2014

What’s Inside?

Contact us

/CHICKScharity

info@chicks.org.uk

@CHICKScharity

CHICKS Moorland Retreat, Brentor,Devon, PL19 0LX

01822 811020

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WelcomeAutumn Magazine 2014

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Royal encounters

Abbie and Joe

Meet the people behind CHICKS

Recent memories

The things people do!

Supporting CHICKS

Why refer a child to CHICKS?

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...Giving Hope

Marion Luckhurst, Chair of Trustees

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Once again it has been a really busy year for us at CHICKS. One of the highlights has been achieving the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, more on this prestigious award on the next page.It has been a great season so far with our children benefiting from the lovely weather we had in spring and summer. It still amazes me that just experiencing fresh air and nature can make such a profound difference to a child. Coupled with experiences that build confidence and self-worth, the change in the children over the week is colossal.It is often the simple things that seem to have the greatest effect – home cooked meals, flying a kite on the moors, team games on the beach. Experiences that most of us take for granted in our lives.All this is only achievable through your generous support so thank you for making happy memories for these children.

CHICKS was recently awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service: the equivalent of an MBE for volunteer groups. CHICKS was delighted to win this award that recognises outstanding work by organisations in their own communities and which is the highest award that can be given to volunteer groups in the UK.

Hundreds of volunteers every year support the children on the weekly breaks, assist with fundraising activities and help in the offices. Last year alone, over 350 people volunteered over 14,000 hours for CHICKS.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the charity – without them we simply could not help up to 1,200 children every year. This award is for them and to each and every one of our volunteers we say, ‘thank you’.

In other Royal news, Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex paid a special visit to the CHICKS stand at the Royal Cornwall Show where she met members of the team including 9-year-old Sam who has attended CHICKS twice before.

Her Royal Highness asked lots of questions about Sam’s break and even wrote down her favourite childhood memory as a keepsake for the charity. Sam said, ‘‘At first I was scared and nervous but then Sophie made me feel calm and she was really interested when I was trying to explain to her about CHICKS. She was lovely.’’

Royal encounters

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Abbie and JoeCHICKS employee Azita recently met with Joe (10), his sister Abbie (14) and their mum, Rachel, to hear how CHICKS has supported them over the years.

Joe is a friendly, chatty little boy who can’t wait to talk about his time at CHICKS. As I enter their living room, both he and his sister greet me with big smiles and with all of their CHICKS photographs in hand.

I ask Joe about his favourite activity and he tells me it was swimming. ‘I can’t swim but I found it fun because I went into the deep end. We all just wore arms bands and it was actually quite fun.’

Abbie tells me that going to Lydford Gorge, a beautiful woodland area with a waterfall and river, was her favourite activity. ‘Everybody got involved, splashing each other in the water…I also liked going to Crealy (adventure park). It was kind of special because we don’t get to do it that often.’

It’s been a difficult few years for the three of them. Their mum Rachel suffers from a range of illnesses including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue which affect her mobility and energy levels. It’s got so severe in recent years that she has had to stop working and receives help from a carer. Not only is she not able to take the children out as much as she used to, but Rachel’s inability to work has caused a lot of financial strain on the family making holidays or trips extremely difficult.

Rachel tells me about all the things they used to do as a family: camping, days out, jumping on the trampolines. Unfortunately, those things aren’t possible now. She tells me how difficult it has been ‘going through an illness that is developing and unravelling.’ She says, ‘At CHICKS, I know they can go away and have a nice time and do the things that since the illness we can’t do.’

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Abbie and Joe

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Donate

If you would like to give children like Abbie and Joe a much needed

break, then support CHICKS by completing the donation form at the back of the magazine or visit

‘Being at CHICKS gives them time out from home. Time just to be children… They’re not with me but that’s good because it’s getting them out of the house, letting them have some fun.’

Abbie tells me more about how CHICKS helped her personally. She says, ‘I got into a bad habit and started smoking but CHICKS really helped me. They were really supportive…they helped me through it. They gave me advice and I talked to the staff a lot.’

She tells me how she feels she gained confidence and made a lot of new friends. She also describes how’d she’d like to return next year but also volunteer when she turns 18. I ask her why and she responds, ‘I’d like to share the same experience and I’d like to give them [other children] what CHICKS has given me.’

After spending some time with them all it’s clear that there is a lot of love and affection in this family. It’s been a really challenging time for them all but with some extra support from CHICKS they’re getting through it.

Rachel looks at me and says, ‘CHICKS is a godsend.’ Things are hard but ‘I can’t keep looking back, I’ve got to look forward.’ In her own words, ‘we’re getting there.’

Respite Break Leader, Sarah

Meet the people behind CHICKS

Why did you apply for the job?I haven’t always been on the right track in life but with the support and encouragement of a positive role model in my teenage years, I turned my life around. Some of the young people who come to CHICKS haven’t been dealt the best set of cards to begin with and feel worthless, isolated and have very low self-esteem. I applied for the job with the ambition to be that very role model they may lack in their everyday life, giving them hope, building their confidence and giving them that ignition to believe that they can achieve.

Tell us about a happy memory...There was a young boy who was petrified of water; his mum warned me he wouldn’t even set foot in it. I really wanted this young man to overcome his fear so we moved the swimming session to later in the week in order for him to build up a rapport with the staff. Half way into the session he decided that he’d put his trunks on and go for a paddle. With a lot of encouragement he managed to go waist deep into the water. The first thing he did when his mum picked him up was tell her about it and she was so proud and gave him a massive hug. His little face was beaming as they drove off.

What are some of the challenges?At CHICKS I expect the unexpected because no matter how much you plan, something is going to happen that requires a total change. The weather report stating sunshine was clearly wrong, the bed time story to calm the children down has had an adverse effect, heavy traffic means there’s an hour’s delay. But no matter what the situation you are these young people’s guardians for the week. We’re there to

reassure them, protect them, keep them safe and lead them in the right direction. No problem is too big, no question is unanswered and most of all, every single child matters!

Seeing a child on the moors for the first time, teaching them to swim, and letting them know that we are there for them so they can see adults in a different light is worth every bit of the work.

Respite Break Volunteer and CHICKS Ambassador, Victoria

Meet the people behind CHICKS

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What do you enjoy about volunteering?One of the best things about volunteering with CHICKS is that you can really see a difference in confidence with all of the young people. I love that it is done by being outside as much as possible. When I was a kid I was always outdoors mucking around, and I’ve been extremely lucky that I’ve had that whilst growing up, whereas a lot of young people don’t. Being outside as much as possible puts all the stresses of every day life to one side. As cliché as it sounds, I always come back feeling like I’ve really helped to make a difference.

Why did you decide to become a CHICKS Ambassador, helping to raise money and awareness for the charity?For such an amazing charity it’s shocking how few people have heard of it. I’ve lived in Devon and Cornwall my whole life - and only heard about it when my university put on a Community Action fair. I also helped out at the Royal Cornwall Show telling people about CHICKS and trying to raise money, and it was brilliant to see how receptive people were to hearing what we had to say. At the end of the day, as a Break Volunteer I have first-hand experiences that I can share with people, and that’s the best way to promote a cause, and CHICKS really is something that I endorse.

What do the children gain from their breaks?I think every child gains something very different from their break. The biggest thing for me is that they gain a lot of confidence. Towards the end of the week it’s the ones who were really shy that you’re asking to settle down the most! I also feel like they get to know themselves better, they’re encouraged to get out of their comfort zone and

VolunteerIf you’d like to volunteer on one of our respite breaks or become a CHICKS Ambassador call us on

01822 811020, email volunteer@chicks.org.uk

or visit

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...Giving Hope

try something that they might be scared of and because of that they learn really important things about themselves.

2013!…I’m missing the camp already and especially you! You’ve really helped me a lot Annie. I thank you so much because if it wasn’t because of you, I wouldn’t have been myself! We had some heart to heart talks and it really was nice to talk to you!I really can’t wait until I’m 18 to volunteer and 21! This might sound crazy but on my holiday at camp I was thinking of working with CHICKS as a leader or fundraiser. This is because I would love making children smile and getting involved and also I’d love to make CHICKS big for me! I’m starting to fundraise for CHICKS as I’d love children to have a dream and have hope…...I would love to follow your steps and be a leader because I would love to give children hope, faith and to confront their dreams like you helped me have an amazing and unforgettable dream of my life!... Connor

Recent memories

from CHICKS

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Dear, All Little CHICKS,Thank-you for the great experience I had in Devon; It was the best time of my life and made many friends. I will not forget anyone of you. Thank you for such a good time. I was shy to begin with but as the time went past I started to open up my shell, I found out that I really enjoyed myself. I would love to do something like this again, because I loved all the activities that we did, I was able to do things, which I was unable to do, at home. I really enjoyed making new friends and learning to do different things, thank you for giving me the chance to do these amazing things and be able to express my feelings through play and learning. The best thing about this was the fact I have always wanted to do rock climbing and had the chance do it and I really enjoyed myself, I will never forget the life skills you have taught me when I was with you thank you for the time you have given me to, have some time to myself and see people which are going through the same thing my family going through here, thank you. I really appreciated all the things you have done for me, and I would love to take part in something similar again. Even though I enjoyed all the activities there I really enjoyed the rock climbing, sculling. I will never forget anyone of you and I will always remember the things you have taught me and for looking after me.

Many Thanks & Love

Here are just some of the amazing challenges that CHICKS supporters have been taking on in 2014

Feeling inspired?If you’re feeling inspired why not sign up for your own challenge? There are plenty of events to choose from so you’re guaranteed to find something that’s right for you!

Great North Swim Family and friends joined Helen and Jill Anglesea to take part in the Great North Swim in memory of Dylan and in aid of CHICKS in June. Together they raised over £2600!

Plymouth Half MarathonA team of 22 runners including a large group from the Wrigley Company Limited took on the Plymouth half marathon in April. The mix of seasoned runners and newbies all finished in great times and raised over £4000!

Delicious Dart TrailThe Delicious Dart Trail was a sell out with over 350 runners enjoying amazing trail running in the beautiful Devon countryside, sampling gorgeous local produce along the way. The event raised over £6000!

Tri Moor Cycle ChallengeDozens of cycling enthusiasts including teams from corporate partners Ginsters and Incisive Media took part in CHICKS first ever Tri Moor Cycle Challenge. They cycled 122 miles over three moors - a huge achievement and no mean feat!

The things people do!

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Get Involved

For more information or to register for one of our events

call us on 01822 811020, email events@chicks.org.uk or visit

CHICKSMaking Memories...

...Giving Hope

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Get festive for CHICKS

We know Christmas is months away but we’re so excited about our festive fundraising event that we had to share it with you. After the sell out success of our first ever CHICKS Santa Sprint, we’re delighted to be holding another 1 mile run in Callington on Saturday 6th December. Don’t miss out on this fun, festive event which will see hundreds of fundraising santas take to the streets of Callington in aid of CHICKS. Entry includes a santa suit, medal and plenty of festive cheer.

If you can’t make it to our Callington run, why not take part in the Santa Run in London’s Victoria Park as part of the doitforcharity.com run series? Join thousands of other participants and raise sponsorship for CHICKS!

Tea@Three

Take part in CHICKS very own tea party campaign. We want as many people as possible to hold their own tea party throughout September and October in aid of CHICKS. It’s a wonderful way to meet up with friends, try out your baking skills and raise money for disadvantaged children.

You can hold your tea party at work, in school, at home or at your local community group. Invite your friends, family and colleagues and simply ask for a small donation for the delicious refreshments they enjoy. Those donations quickly add up and will help CHICKS to provide lifelong memories for children who need them most. Get in touch to receive a fundraising pack!

Charity of the yearIf your work place, school, church or community group runs a charity of the year scheme, please consider nominating CHICKS! We have lots of experience with charity of the year partnerships and have dedicated fundraisers on hand to help make the partnership as rewarding and fun as possible. We can give talks, arrange volunteering opportunities, offer fundraising advice and more!

Supporting CHICKSBarclays get creativeA team of Barclays employees came on a fun filled volunteering day at our coastal retreat earlier in the year. They did a marvellous job painting a colourful seaside backdrop in the play barn, putting up a wall in the trampoline barn and making a roof for the maintenance shed, all in a day’s work!

Thank you so much to our wonderful Barclays volunteers for brightening up the coastal retreat and making it an even better place for the children to relax and play.

Legal eagles conquer the Welsh 3000 for CHICKS75 fundraising lawyers embarked on the infamous Welsh 3000 challenge in June as part of their annual charity challenge – this year raising money for CHICKS. The amazing legal team from across various offices of Mills & Reeve Solicitors braved wet and windy weather conditions to scale three of Wales’ highest peaks in just one day - Y Garn , Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach. Each peak stands at over 3000 feet. The team raised a record amount of over £18,000. Thanks to them, many more children can enjoy a much needed break.

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Leave a lasting memoryAfter you’ve looked after your friends and family, why not consider leaving a gift in your will to CHICKS? By supporting CHICKS in this way, you can make a positive impact on generations to come. You’ll be helping many more children experience a very special break away and give them memories that’ll last a lifetime.

It is important that you have a will and that it is up to date. This makes it easier for your family and friends to respect your wishes and resolve your affairs. You can include CHICKS in various ways such as leaving a lump sum or a percentage of your estate.

Matt’s gift to CHICKSMatt has decided to leave a gift in his will to CHICKS. Here he tells us why:

‘‘Coming from an underprivileged childhood myself, I appreciate the work that CHICKS does.

I look forward to reading the magazines. The stories about the children help to take me away from the frustrations of modern life. It’s great to hear about the difference a CHICKS break makes.With no family to take care of in my will, I felt it was important to help to do some good. It makes me feel good about myself to know I will be supporting the work of CHICKS into the future.’’

Adding CHICKS in your will is very straightforward. You just need to contact your solicitor who will talk you through the procedure and ask for the charity’s details. If you’d prefer to speak with someone at CHICKS, please call Bridget on 01822 811116 - she will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Your generous gift will ensure that we can help even more disadvantaged children for years to come.

Support us

If you’d like to support CHICKS individually, as part of a

community group or with your colleagues then please get in

touch. Email info@chicks.org.uk or visit

CHICKSMaking Memories...

...Giving Hope

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Why refer a child to CHICKS?

Lisa is a Volunteer Co-ordinator and CHICKS referral agent from Liverpool.In the last two years she has referred 14 children she works with to CHICKS. Here she speaks about why she thinks CHICKS is important, the difference it makes and why she we will continue to refer…

‘‘Many of the children I work with come from deprived backgrounds; living in homes with domestic violence, living with parents with mental health

*Please note that the story is real but the child’s name has been changed to protect their identity.

problems, struggling from financial difficulties and poor living conditions.

A break at CHICKS gives the children we work with a very different experience – often they haven’t had the opportunities to do half of the activities on offer at CHICKS. The memories it creates for the children is incredible and for the children to have the opportunity to do some of the things they wouldn’t usually get to do is just fantastic!

All of the children I have referred absolutely loved their time at CHICKS and chatted all the way home about their experience – the horse riding, tobogganing etc. But the main thing that stood out was the relationships the children had formed, both with each other and the CHICKS staff.

They proudly showed off the photos and collages they were provided with. Some of the children who often find it difficult to socialise with their peers loved the opportunity to make new friends in the CHICKS environment.

One particular child who stands out was Charlie*. Charlie has had a difficult upbringing having witnessed domestic violence, substance misuse and more recently, the sudden loss of his father. He could be very disruptive in class and was often sent out because of his behaviour.

Why refer a child to CHICKS?

Refer a Child

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For more information about referring a child you work with to

CHICKS, email coordinators@chicks.org.uk,

call 01822 811127 or visit

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With one of his older brothers in prison, Charlie doesn’t have the positive male role model he needs.

But after attending CHICKS, Charlie’s behaviour has remarkably improved. Since taking part in all of the activities at CHICKS, he has joined a local football team and has become a great team player. His school have also noticed a difference. He is able to concentrate in class and been able to walk away from trouble: a massive positive leap forward for Charlie. One of his teachers even said that she believed Charlie would have been excluded by now if it wasn’t for CHICKS. It’s been months since his break and he still talks about it and continues to do well at school.

All I can say is thank you to CHICKS for the life changing opportunity it provides for our children. I’m now working on referring another group of children next year so that we can create even more wonderful memories for them.’’

*Please note that the story is real but the child’s name has been changed to protect their identity.

The Coordination TeamAt CHICKS we have a dedicated Coordination Team that are on hand to guide you through the referral process and answer any questions. Throughout the year we receive thousands of applications from schools, social services and other organisations. The team are always happy to hear from new referral agents so please get in touch.

I would like to become a Memory Maker and set up a

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Account number: ......................................……………Bank Instructions: To Barclays PLC, The Parade, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 6AR | Account name: CHICKS Account no:30162272 Sortcode: 20-50-40

We’d love to tell you how your donation has made a difference but if you’d prefer not to receive a ‘thank you’, tick here

Gift Aid Declaration: If you’re a UK tax payer* your donation could be worth

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I am a UK tax payer and I would like to treat all of my donations to CHICKS in the past, present and future until I notify otherwise, as Gift Aid donations. *To qualify for Gift Aid, what you pay in income tax or capital gains tax must equal the total amount that CHICKS, other charities and CASCS will reclaim in the tax year. I understand that other taxes such as council tax and VAT do not qualify. Higher rate payers can claim the difference between basic and higher tax rate on their tax return. Please note: For us to be able to process your Gift Aid claim, we need to keep these details on file. In line with the Data Protection Act we need to ask your permission to be able to do this. We treat all personal information with respect and never sell or pass on data. If you do not wish your details to be kept on file, please tick here □ CHICKS would like to keep you updated with how your support changes lives. Please tick here if you do not want to be contacted □

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Please return this completed donation slip to: Freepost RLZA-ZHKL-BZKR CHICKS Moorland Retreat, Brentor, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 0LX

Registered charity in England & Wales (1080953) and in Scotland (SCO40536)

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