News

CHICKS to sell Moorland Retreat in Brentor, Devon

It is with complete and sincere fondness for the hundreds of memories made and childhoods changed at our retreat in Brentor, Devon that we today announce that our 'Moorland Retreat' is for sale. The eight-bed property was placed on the market in January following a period of careful consultation between our staff and the Board of […]

7 ways you can get involved with CHICKS in 2020

Every year, CHICKS relies on the generous services of hundreds of volunteers to deliver respite breaks to vulnerable children and young people across the UK. However, we recognise that spending a week away from home working directly with young people is not for everyone. Luckily, there is a multitude of ways in which you can […]

Shantelle recalls her life-changing CHICKS breaks

Shantelle-Marie Swabey attended eight consecutive CHICKS breaks as a child, and claims that she "wouldn't be who and where she is today" without those experiences. Now aged 22, Plymouth-based Shantelle is trying to raise awareness and funds for CHICKS to enable more young people to have those same opportunities she enjoyed. In September 2005, at the […]

Bring light and happiness to the lives of hundreds of vulnerable children in 2020

One week can be gone in the blink of an eye. But one week when you're eight and braving the dizzying heights of a rock climbing wall, patting the horse you didn't believe you could ride, or beaming with pride as new friends exclaim how amazing you are at Dobble can last a long time […]

Meet the people making Christmas wishes come true in Fenny Bentley this year

"I just feel so loved right now. I feel like I'm an important person," said a little girl on a CHICKS break in Fenny Bentley back in October. CHICKS gives children who feel lonely or worried the chance to be themselves and be loved for it. Every week throughout the year, our teams of Respite Break […]

Volunteers wrap over 2,000 CHICKSmas presents

Every year, CHICKS provides respite breaks to hundreds of vulnerable children and young people from across the UK. As part of their "CHICKS experience", every single child who comes on a break receives Christmas presents and cards at the end of the year. Many of the young people referred to us live in poverty and a […]

Packed-out Christmas lunch delivers for CHICKS

The East Midlands Chamber Christmas Lunch, a flagship event in the Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire business calendar, took place on Friday 6 December 2019 at the Athena Leicester, as the great and good of the region's business community celebrated the start of the festive season in style. The annual lunch, sponsored by De Montfort University, Creative 62, […]

Hungry children will be spoiled with delicious Christmas food at CHICKS this year

CHICKS provides free week-long residential respite breaks for hundreds of children every year. This year, a lucky few will be able to come to our Daleside Retreat in Derbyshire for a special Christmas break from 23 to 27 December. We are opening our doors to 16 children living in the most desperately difficult circumstances to […]

Christmas wishes will come true this year

Most children in the UK couldn’t imagine a Christmas that wasn’t spent with their family in a warm home, with a stocking at the end of their bed and presents under the tree. Sadly, many of the children referred to CHICKS can only dream of a Christmas like this. The reality of their lives is […]

Be a Good Cause Santa Claus this Christmas

You know what it’s like… one day in early December, you come into work to be greeted by a box filled with slips of paper, out of which you are required to pull the name of a random colleague for whom you will secretly buy a small gift. When you’re so busy trying to traverse the pressures […]

Tavistock Santa Fun Run raises thousands

Our annual Santa Fun Run came to Tavistock last weekend (Sunday 1 December), raising £3,916 to enable more vulnerable children and young people from Devon and across the UK to attend a free week-long break. First held in 2015, our annual Santa Fun Runs in Tavistock and Callington attract participants from across Devon and Cornwall. This […]

Hannah to take on extreme triathlon for CHICKS

"Every time I get outside training, I have an adventure," says Hannah Saitch. "Whether it be for half an hour, all day or longer, this keeps me happy and soon wipes away any stress I may have. It has struck me training for this race how lucky I am to have these opportunities, which is why I […]