Bondholders urged to support kids’ camp volunteer search

Cosy Direct is calling on fellow Marketing Derby Bondholders to support a volunteer recruitment drive for a charity, which provides breaks to children who may be living in poverty or facing challenges at home.

Derby Kids’ Camp, which is supported by the Cosy Foundation – the charitable arm of the Queen’s Award-winning business – is appealing for help with this summer’s event, which will see more than 300 primary school pupils head to the Peak District for a week of team building, fun and making memories.

It will be the first time in two years, since the first UK lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, that Derby Kids Camp – which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023 – has been able to host the holidays for youngsters.

Derby Kids’ Camp, which works closely with Embark Federation, is run entirely by volunteers and provides free holidays for some of the most deserving children in the city and county who are nominated by their school.

Many are living in poverty or have suffered bereavement. Some also may be finding social interaction difficult after the past couple of years and subsequent lockdowns.

Their week at Derby Kids’ Camp – where they get to take part in craft activities, cave climbing and swimming – gives them the chance to try out new activities, explore new surroundings and enjoy being a child.

Chairman Chris Edwards said: “Our holidays help to build children’s confidence and their independence but, more importantly, the children leave with lifelong memories of an amazing and much-needed holiday.

“The camp is set in the beautiful Peak District, and we have people who come back year after year.”

The charity is expecting demand for places to be higher than ever this year, given the challenges of the past few years and increasing numbers of families struggling financially and with mental health issues.

Chris said: “We were seeing increasing demand for the holidays before Covid hit, and we’re expecting this to have grown even more this year.

“We’d love to be able to offer our full capacity of over 300 children’s holiday spaces, but without the support of a further 50 volunteers we simply won’t be able to do this, and some children will go without a much-needed break from the challenges they face.

“We have a ratio of one volunteer to every two children and each volunteer is DBS checked.

“We also have a Cook Team who do a fantastic job in feeding the hungry children and volunteers in our Cook Tent, so if there are any budding chefs out there, then volunteering to join the Cook Team would be a great thing to do.”

To apply to become a Derby Kids’ Camp volunteer, visit www.derbykidscamp.co.uk.