A WEST Devon children's charity has been presented with the highest award that can be given to volunteer groups in the UK — the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. The award, which recognises outstanding work by organisations in their own communities, was given to CHICKS (Country Holidays for Inner City Kids) for its work to provide free respite breaks for disadvantaged children at its retreats in Brentor and in Par, Cornwall, giving many of them what is often the first 'holiday' of their lives. Since its inception in 1992, the charity has helped more than 11,000 children, giving them a much-needed break from their challenges at home, including poverty, abuse, bereavement and caring responsibilities. CHICKS chief executive Elanor Hoskin said: 'It is a huge honour to receive the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and I'd like to thank the hundreds of volunteers who support CHICKS every year. 'It is thanks to them that we are able to support so many children. 'Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation and with demand for our services increasing, we are always looking for new volunteers to get involved and to help us provide much needed breaks and much loved memories for children who need them.' CHICKS relies on hundreds of volunteers every year to support the children on the weekly breaks, to assist with fundraising activities and in its offices. Last year alone, more than 350 people volunteered over 14,000 hours for CHICKS. Thomas Holt, regular CHICKS volunteer and winner of the Student Volunteer Award 2013, said: 'I have volunteered in many places and even ran charities in the past and I've always felt, out of all of them, the volunteers at CHICKS are the best looked after. 'I feel very supported volunteering for CHICKS and I would certainly recommend it. 'Any words I say on CHICKS don't do it justice. 'Unless you are on a break with other volunteers and 16 children that don't know each other for five days, you'll never fully understand the magic.' The award will be presented to the charity by the Queen's representative, the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Edward Bolitho, at a local ceremony. CHICKS was nominated for the award by Catherine Mead, High Sherriff of Cornwall in 2012/13. To find out more about CHICKS and volunteering opportunities, visit http://www.chicks.org.uk">www.chicks.org.uk