Fond memories of my time at city charity's holiday centre has inspired me to volunteer

KEARA SPENT FIVE DAYS AT THE CENTRE AS A CHILD

- By ZENA HAWLEY

A DERBY woman who spent a five-day seaside break at the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre when she was 10 is now hoping to volunteer to look after disadvantaged youngsters who have holidays there if it reopens as planned next year.

The holiday centre has been providing breaks for children for 134 years but a potential shortage of funds resulted in the charity's trustees pausing the annual breaks in 2025 while it looked to raise £150,000 to reassure its future.

The centre, which sends children on holidays from Derby and Derbyshire, has to rely on donations to keep operating.

The Derby telegraph is supporting the Comeback Appeal 2026 and it is now just £20,000 short of its target.

The trustees have indicated that they are optimistic they will be able to resume holidays again next year.

In the meantime, people have been raising money and giving their time to get the Skegness centre back on its feet including 19-year-old Keara Potter, who has never forgotten her time at the centre when she was 10.