WEST Devon-based charity CHICKS has welcomed a new publication which highlights the issues faced by thousands of children throughout the UK. Country Holidays for Inner City Kids (CHICKS) has seen the report from UNICEF on the overview of child well-being in rich countries which has put the UK at the bottom of the league table. This announcement reiterates what CHICKS, a charity which provides free respite breaks to disadvantaged children from across the UK, believes. David Wynn-Jones, general manager of the charity, said: 'Often people regard the UK as one of the leading developed countries and issues of child poverty are overlooked. 'The report clearly states however that poverty is not an extreme measure of material wealth, but that relative poverty and emotional and social factors are also very important when determining and defining poverty. 'After a break with CHICKS, referral agents regularly report that children have grown in confidence and have an increased sense of self worth. 'The ongoing contact and support the children have with CHICKS can have a lasting positive effect upon their future social and emotional development. 'The report has brought to the fore the scale of the challenge CHICKS faces and will hopefully alert people to the importance of the work being undertaken with disadvantaged children in the UK.' CHICKS receives no government funding and relies solely on the help and support of private donors, trust funds, corporate sponsors and volunteers. For more information on the charity or to make a donation call 01822 811020 or visit the website http://www.chicks.org.uk">www.chicks.org.uk