THE MP for West Devon and Torridge Geoffrey Cox hosted a parliamentary reception recently on behalf of children’s charity CHICKS.

The reception was an opportunity for the charity to bring together all of its sponsors and trustees to celebrate the wonderful work it does for disadvantaged children across the country.

CHICKS is a national charity that provides free, week-long respite breaks to disadvantaged children from all over the UK. It was started back in 1992 and has since provided more than 13,000 children with a much-needed break.

Speaking after the event MP Geoffrey Cox said: ‘It was a real pleasure to host this event for such an amazing charity. The work it does is truly remarkable and makes a real difference to children who sadly do not have the childhood they deserve.

‘Some children are living in poverty, some are young carers, or victims of bullying or abuse, or have been bereaved. CHICKS provides these children with new experiences and allows them to relax and be children once more.

‘I am proud that one of the charity’s three retreats is in my own constituency which I have visited on several occasions and I strongly support all the good work it does for children throughout the UK.’