OVER the past 26 years, a Cheshire charity has turned a group of dilapidated 17th century farm buildings into a children’s paradise of playgrounds, fun and farm animals.

From the patronage of famous comedians, athletes and Manchester United’s all time leading scorer, to the thousands of miles run and cycled by fundraisers – the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust owes its magic to a cast of thousands.

If there can be a barometer for its invaluable work providing free holidays for disabled and disadvantaged children, then it can be found in the smiles on visitors’ faces.

“We’re all about having fun,” says CAFT’s Helen Crowther, who’s seen the charity grow into a 24/7 enterprise, requiring £1 million of funding compared to £350,000 13-years-ago.

“Children learn a lot while they’re here but they’re here to have fun. It’s about them building social skills, increasing their independence and improving their relationships with their peers and teachers at school.”

The sheer range of activities available at CAFT means parents are often surprised to find their child return with new interests or hobbies.

“They might realise their child returns with a love of music for instance, and they can use that going forward to help improve the child’s life,” explains Helen.

“We often hear of the kids going back to school and joining a music club or an art club. They’ve maybe never been the opportunity to explore that side of themselves before they arrive here.

“A child might be visually impaired, but here they can still do arts and crafts and music. It’s all about finding that thing that the child has never seen or done before and encouraging them to have a go and do something no-one ever thought they could do.”

Among the charity’s most well-loved offering is their petting zoo, featuring a cast of friendly donkeys, chickens, budgies and alpacas.

“An animal doesn’t see disability. They just accept you. That’s a revelation for a lot of the kids, as well as just seeing the animals up close,” says Helen.

“A lot of the children that come here from disadvantaged backgrounds have never been to the countryside.

“To be able to collect eggs and bring them to kitchens and see food being produced is a revelation for them.”

There’s also a can-do attitude to physical activity, with CAFT offering an adventure playground specially adapted for wheelchair users.

“We encourage them to do everything an able bodied person can do,” says Helen.

“We have kids that have the most complex needs – children who will need turning while they’re in bed, who are tube fed, can’t support themselves and might have life limiting illnesses.

“At the other end of the scale we have children that are able bodied and are just perhaps from poor areas where their families can’t afford to take them on holiday.”

While CAFT is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for children, it also provides valuable respite for dedicated parents who rarely get to experience time to themselves.

Equally, for some children it can be a therapeutic break from being a carer, or for kids forced to grow up too fast because problems at home.

“We might have very lively children with behavioural problems, or children that have been taking on the role of carer, or a child whose parents have had drug or mental health issues,” says Helen.

“Schools in disadvantaged areas can apply to come here. They have exactly the same chance of getting a holiday as a group for terminally ill children. The need is as pressing in both circumstances.”

CAFT’s multi-sensory suite allows disabled children to experience new sites and sounds, while a dedicated art room is a popular spot for creative kids.

A sports hall opened by charity president, Sir Bobby Charlton and a nature trail featuring a walk-in aviary also feature onsite.

“There’s a lot to take care of and no stone is left unturned in terms of fundraising,” says Helen, “but you know that all the effort’s well worth it when you see the smiles on the kids' faces."

To find out how you can support CAFT, or for more information, visit caft.co.uk