A highly valued charity giving free Peak District camping holidays to hundreds of disadvantaged Derbyshire children each year – many of whom come from families relying on food banks over the summer – has welcomed a new chair.
Sarah Armitage MBE, who has been recognised by the honours system for her many years of voluntary work in schools, is the new chair of Derby Kids’ Camp.
Sarah, formerly chair of trustees at Embark Federation, is taking on her new Derby Kids’ Camp role from former incumbent Chris Edwards, who has now become president.
Derby Kids’ Camp provides a week’s holiday in glorious rolling Derbyshire countryside for children aged 8 to 11 who are nominated through their school if it is felt they would benefit from the experience.
Children who go to Derby Kids’ Camp face a range of challenges which could include financial hardship, being a young carer, living in a single parent family in need of respite, recent bereavement or family break up.
The charity has been going for 53 years and Chris has been involved for around 30 of those, including 18 as chair.
He said: “I’ve had an incredible time building Derby Kids’ Camp so far and Sarah is the ideal candidate to take us to the next level. I’m really excited to have somebody who’s got such experience and professionalism take on this role.”
Sarah said she had first become aware of the work of Derby Kids’ Camp through her involvement as chair of trustees for Embark, whose schools across Derbyshire nominate children to attend.
She said volunteering at the camp had been a wonderful experience and she was looking forward to becoming more involved.
“It was amazing, absolutely fantastic,” said Sarah. “I think there is something very special about Derby Kids’ Camp in terms its inclusivity and warm welcome – I hope to inspire more people to get involved.
“The children get an amazing variety of activities. It’s all screen free too which is brilliant. They just don’t think about screens at all for a week.
“It’s such a great environment for them to be out in the countryside. They get taken on two fairly long walks and you can hear them reach a brow of a hill and say: ‘wow, you can see for miles!’ That’s priceless.”
Sarah said she was looking forward to using her decades of volunteer experience helping schools with their governance, along with her professional skills running a leadership coaching business, to take Derby Kids’ Camp to the next level.
She said: “I feel very honoured and privileged to take on the role. Chris leaves huge shoes to fill.
“My vision for the charity is to widen and deepen its impact, and really strengthen the foundations of its support base to make Derby Kids’ Camp sustainable in the long term.
“Much of that will be about fundraising and attracting even more corporate supporters who do so much to boost the charity.”
Families whose children attend Derby Kids’ Camp are visited at home by representatives from the charity before their stay to help allay any worries about what to expect.
Chris said: “When you conduct home visits you really appreciate the backgrounds of some of the kids who come to our charity, and the challenges they go through on a daily basis.
“Hopefully we can all get to go on holiday as children. As adults you realise these are some of the most important memories we have. Holidays shape who you are and how you feel about the world.
“But some of the children we help have never been on holiday. They’ve never had that chance, that freedom, to run around fields, splash in rivers and make memories.
“These children are only with us for six days. It’s very important to help them make those memories too.
“We know we have impact. So many children who come to us on kids’ camp can’t wait to return when they are 16 to volunteer. They want to give something back to the next generation.
“We teach them to make friends. We teach them so much. That’s what Kids Camp is really about.
“The challenges that those families go through, particularly through the summer, are significant. We see more and more families needing our support. In term time their children might get breakfast and a free hot meal at school but during the summer, we know that some parents are going without food. The need for projects like ours is essential.
“I can honestly say Derby Kids’ Camp has changed my life. I became a foster carer because of Kids’ camp.
“All of my best friends, I met in a field with kids. Just giving kids a holiday means so much.”
Derby Kids’ Camp has signed up 160 volunteers so far this year but more are still needed to make this year’s event run.
Corporate supporters who might be able to lend a hand setting up the camp and hold fundraising events are also warmly welcomed.
See www.derbykidscamp.co.uk for more information. This story was written and shared on behalf of Derby Kids’ Camp by Lucy Stephens. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
