A charity is offering life-changing countryside breaks to vulnerable children in London just over an hour from their homes.
Go Beyond is working with Cardfields Centre in Chelmsford to give week-long stays for eight to 13 year-olds next summer.
Development Director Rachel Mugan said: “One in three children in London is growing up in poverty.
“For many, that means overcrowded homes, shared beds, no space for homework and parents struggling to cover the basics.”
Go Beyond has been providing breaks for vulnerable children for more than 30 years and has centres in Derbyshire and Cornwall.
But for many children the biggest barrier to accessing a Go Beyond break is the challenge of travel.
Ms Mugan said: “Our new partnership with Cardfields means London children will have short journeys. That’s why we are so excited.”
Go Beyond is offering breaks for around 100 children who struggle with issues like poverty, bereavement, mental health challenges or caring responsibilities.
Ms Mugan said: “For them, it will mean swapping traffic noise for birdsong, screens for campfires, and stress for the freedom to simply play.”
She said Go Beyond know that a few days away can be transformative, replacing stress with freedom and giving children the confidence to believe in themselves.
Ms Mugan said 80 percent of young people say they find it easier to make new friends after a Go Beyond break and 85 percent leave believing people care about them.
She urged people working with vulnerable children who could benefit from a break to get in touch.
Ms Mugan also asked people to consider volunteering or help to raise the £1,000 per child needed to pay for these breaks to contact Go Beyond.
She said: “Our ambition is to grow provision in the South East and use this partnership model with Cardfields as a blueprint to help more vulnerable children across the UK.”
For more details and to refer a child for a break with Go Beyond please go to https://www.gobeyond.org.uk/breaks/go-beyond-south-east
