PLATES clashing, children laughing and paint smeared all over the table — this is just a normal morning for children, staff and volunteers of a West Devon children's charity before they embark on a busy day of activities as part of a well deserved respite break — and one of many that have taken place over the last 20 years.

From its humble beginnings in canvas tents on a secluded farm near Lydford Gorge, CHICKS (Country Holidays for Inner City Kids) has come a long way in 20 years, allowing more than 9,000 children from a variety of disadvantaged backgrounds to enjoy a week's respite break away from their home lives to make new friends and create positive childhood memories at one of the charity's two locations — the Moorland Retreat in Brentor and the Coastal Retreat in Par, Cornwall.

The children are referred to CHICKS by a professional body. Many of whom live in poverty, are neglected, bullied, abused, live in care or are carers themselves and would benefit from respite from their home situation.

One child, aged eight, who has benefited from a CHICKS break, witnessed domestic abuse on several occasions against her mother. She has a particularly difficult relationship with her mother, who always describes her child in a negative way, even telling her social worker that she never bonded with the child as she reminds her of her abusive ex-partner.

Another little girl, nine, has just been placed on the Child Protection Plan. Both her parents have a history of substance misuse and this has led to domestic abuse, a lot of which she has seen and heard. Her school attendance has decreased and she is being bullied.

A young boy shares a room with his older brother who has behavioural problems and bullies him. This causes him to get anxious and worried. He is shy and his family are incredibly isolated. He has also been sexually abused.

For all of the children, time away from their home lives is beneficial to them, building confidence and self-esteem, learning new skills and experiencing things they would not otherwise get a chance to do.

At the Moorland Retreat last week, which boasts multiple play barns, a basketball court, football pitches, an outdoor maze, giant chess set, a field, disco room, pool and living spaces, the children had been busy playing games, going horse riding, swimming, rock climbing and visiting an adventure park.

Many of the children on the camps have not been outside of the estates where they live so benefit from all the space available to them at the retreats.

Roxy, 10, was on her sixth CHICKS break.

She said: 'Last year I came twice, I came on the Christmas Camp too and I got presents. This time we've been to the moors and built shelters and went horse riding. When I was younger I had never seen a horse before but now whenever I see one I stroke it and hug it. It's great because I can do all the stuff that I can't do at home.'

It is not just the children that enjoy themselves during the camps, the supervisors and volunteers also have a great time helping the children take part in various activities.

Supervisor Wayne Downing has been working at CHICKS for four years: 'I volunteered once and went home from camp and got really depressed. I had a really intense week with the children and when I got home I was bored.

'After two weeks I quit my job and got a job here.'

Volunteer Kimberley Davis attended the camps as a child and has now been volunteering with the charity for four years: 'I was referred here as a child, and I decided to volunteer to come back and give back to something that has done so much for me — CHICKS does so much good. It feels really good to see the change in all the kids throughout the week.'

Supervisor Steph Lumley said : 'It really is a job like no other. You never know how your day is going to go, you can make a plan but it never turns out that way. It's really great to see the kids form bonds with other kids and volunteers, especially when you get their paperwork saying they don't make friends easily or their teachers can't handle their behaviour at school — we see a completely different child.

'Sometimes just removing them from that environment is enough to make a difference.'

The team at CHICKS is keen to maintain contact with all the children, by sending them home with a stamped addressed envelope, and send them a birthday card and Christmas card during the year as well.

'It doesn't just end on Friday when they go home, we try to keep in touch,' said Steph.

'Some people get letters from children for years after they have been on the camp — it's nice to hear how they are getting on.'

Head of operations Rod Webb-Taylor said: 'It's really good to see the kids who are quiet with low self-esteem — by the end of the week they know everyone and they are getting down to JLS and Kylie in the disco room.'

This year CHICKS is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a range of events, including music nights, bungee jumps, sky dives and a 20th birthday ball.

The charity is now aiming to establish another retreat by 2015 to be able to keep up with the demand for respite breaks.

The timing of the third retreat however will depend on funding, and the charity's main aim for this year is to continue to provide breaks at the existing retreats, in what staff at CHICKS are saying is already proving to be a tough year for the charitable sector.

Due to funding restraints, this year the camps have had to be reduced by a day.

With no government funding the charity relies on the generosity of individuals, community groups, corporate partnerships and trusts to provide the life changing breaks.

CHICKS patron David Gower said: 'I have been a patron and supporter of CHICKS for many years now and the need to keep up the good work has never been greater.

'As with so many really good projects, we tend never to see what is going on and what is being done, in this case, to provide such wonderful opportunities for disadvantaged children to get just a taste of things that a lot of us take for granted.

'Just to see their faces and their broad smiles during their time in the country is what makes it all worthwhile for all those associated with CHICKS.

'Sadly raising the funds to keep things working is tougher than ever and, though everyone at CHICKS knows that there is fierce competition for charity funds for all sorts of great causes, they all know that what they do is so beneficial and so rewarding. Every contribution, large or small, is vital and will make such a difference to the lives of all those CHICKS can help.'

The charity is always in need of volunteers to help out on camps and to help with fundraising.

For more information about the charity, volunteering or how to make a donation, visit http://www.chicks.org.uk">www.chicks.org.uk or call 01822 811020.