WEST Devon based charities, CHICKS (Country Holidays for Inner City Kids) have been recognised by JustGiving, the UK's most popular online fundraising platform, and have made the shortlist for its prestigious 2011 Awards.

The JustGiving Awards, sponsored by PayPal, celebrate outstanding individuals and organisations who have given their time, effort and money to charity through its website during the last year. Between January and December 2010, 555,943 fundraising pages were set up by members of the public on the JustGiving website in order to raise money for good causes.

Tavistock based charity CHICKS provides essential respite breaks in countryside locations for disadvantaged children between the ages of 8 and 16, from across the UK, and has been shortlisted in the Charity of the Year category for its fundraising endeavours.

Children on the scheme come from a variety of backgrounds and have invariably suffered from the consequences of poverty, neglect and physical or mental abuse. The charity also provides much needed breaks for young carers. 

Roy Endacott, the chief executive officer for CHICKS, said: 'CHICKS is delighted to have been shortlisted for JustGiving's Charity of The Year, 2011. It is thanks to our brilliant supporters that CHICKS will be welcoming our 9,000th child onto a free respite camp this year, and we are honored that they have nominated us for this award.

'We are proud of all the work we do to help disadvantaged children from across the UK, and recognition in the JustGiving awards will help us reach even more children who need support from CHICKS.'