Hi there - Firstly, I'm not doing anything dangerous, I'm not running a marathon, not parachuting out of a plane, not wrestling alligators or anything like that and I'm not cycling for miles and miles up and down massive hills. 

But I'd still like to nick £5 or £10 off you....

So what am I doing? 

I'm just using a week of my annual holiday to volunteer with The Newman Holiday Trust, which provides week long residential holidays for children with special needs, aged 4-16 - giving them the time of their lives and their parents a much needed break. 

That's got to be worth a fiver, or a tenner - surely? 

Not convinced?? Read on...

I will have a special needs child to look after 1 to 1, 24/7, for the whole week - getting them involved in everything from science experiments to talent shows to horse riding. Anything to bring a smile to their faces. For those children who like a quieter environment, there is sensory play, arts & crafts, reading and peaceful time to just sit and watch the world go by. Whatever they love doing, we make it happen.

As volunteers we essentially take on the role of full time carer for the week, helping them with any physical or mental challenges they have, ensuring they are as safe as houses whilst having as much fun as we can pack into a week! 

I did it for the first time last year and spent the week looking after Tianna who had autism and learning difficulties. Mostly non-verbal, Tianna was quite a solitary soul, preferring the quieter activities, but she absolutely loved singing and swimming. Sometimes at the same time!! 

We also went to Legoland - where Tianna made me go on a roller coaster - a scout adventure camp & Cotswold Wildlife Park. We made t-shirts and masks, did some cold cooking, had a pamper evening with facials and nail varnish, spent a lot of time on a bouncy castle, went on a fire engine and got covered in cold baked beans and shaving foam. And did a lot of singing....

It was honestly the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life and I'm going back this year (end of July) to do it all again and I'm excited to meet a new child to help have fun. 

What will your fiver or tenner help with? 

Each holiday is run by volunteers & funded by donations from the public, businesses and volunteer-led fundraising & some Lottery Community Fund support. There are no paid staff - everyone involved with the Trust volunteers their time - with each holiday being led by two holiday organisers with at least one nurse to give the children whatever medication they may need, to support volunteers in providing for the children’s needs and to make sure that we are all happy, healthy and active!

So if you can spare a fiver or a tenner, the Trust would really appreciate it and it will help raise funds to do the same for another 120-130 kids next year.

Go on, do me a favour and help me raise a bit of cash for this fantastic charity - I'll love you forever.....

Nicola