CHILDREN’S charity CHICKS (Country Holidays for Inner City Kids) has put its Moorland Retreat in Brentor up for sale after calling West Devon its home for more than 25 years.

The charity’s eight-bed property was placed on the market in January following a period of consultation between CHICKS’ staff and the board of trustees.

CHICKS halted the delivery of respite breaks for vulnerable young people from its Brentor retreat in April 2017 when it made the decision to consolidate the provision of breaks from its other retreats.

Despite the charity saying its fundraising efforts ‘remain steady’, increased costs and the required investment needed to ensure its Brentor premises are suitable for both the provision of breaks and as an office space have meant that CHICKS has been unable to reinstate the provision of breaks from this site.

CHICKS has three bases — its registered office at Buckfast, Buckfastleigh, a coastal retreat at Par and a Midlands office in Derbyshire.

CHICKS’ chief executive Andrew Dean said: ‘CHICKS stopped providing breaks from its Moorland Retreat in April 2017 and in May 2019 the charity’s fundraising and administrative staff moved to an office in Buckfast.’

While these changes occurred, CHICKS explored options for how best to proceed with the Brentor site, which has been providing holidays since 1992.

Andrew added: ‘Because of the investment required to bring the facilities up to the standard required by us as a charity, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to sell the property.

‘Over the last year, we have taken careful steps to ensure that the sale of the retreat is in the best interest of the charity and that all potential value of the property is maximised.

‘For many years, Brentor and the Tavistock community have given children who are in desperate need of a respite break a place to sleep soundly, play safely and make positive childhood memories.

‘The memories of hundreds of happy days spent in Brentor make us who we are — they are the foundation upon which we are built.’

Andrew added: ‘While we continue to serve children from your communities, the South West and the UK with respite breaks, we ask that you please continue to support us in whatever way you can; children and young people across the UK need CHICKS’ services perhaps more now than ever. It is our duty as an organisation to adapt to the needs of those we support, putting steps in place to ensure that we’re here for their future. We hope that you’ll join us as we continue this journey.’