A charity which provides week-long summer breaks for children with disabilities has received some early Christmas cheer.

While the balmy days of summer may seem a little way off just yet, the dedicated team behind Highfield Highreach Holidays is already busy planning the next happy get-together in August.

And thanks to the generosity and support of the fun-loving visitors to a suitably festive ‘winter wonderland’ at Highfield and Brookham School in Liphook, the charity’s coffers have been swelled to the tune of £3,280.

Organised by the school’s “selfless” parent associations, whose continued efforts were recognised by Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer, the atmospheric winter wonderland featured Christmas stalls, fun inflatables, children’s games, fabulous live festive music, and a giving tree in aid of Liphook Food Bank which provides gifts for families who are struggling financially.

Highreach, which is hosted by Highfield and Brookham, the independent nursery, pre-prep and prep school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, has been providing respite for children with physical and mental disabilities since 2018 and is committed to supporting local families.

The annual holiday runs for one week every summer and the charity covers half of the cost of the residential holiday, making it one of few affordable residential respite holidays in the area. The cost is met by year-round fundraising initiatives within the school community while a healthy group of volunteers, many of whom return year on year, including former Highfield and Brookham pupils, also helps keep costs down.

As well as offering the children a fantastic week of exciting trips and activities, not to mention bags of fun, games, love and laughter, it also offers a welcome break for parents and carers who know their children are in safe hands.

Highreach, declared ‘outstanding’ in all areas by Ofsted inspectors in 2022, returns next summer, from August 1-9.

Highfield Head Suzannah Cryer said she was “incredibly proud” of the work which the volunteers put into the winter wonderland extravaganza and the amount of money it raised.

“It was an extraordinary effort by a dedicated group of people who always go the extra mile to support the school and its fundraising initiatives, making an amazing difference not only to the lives of our own pupils but also to the lives of so many people in the wider community.

“The winter wonderland was a great success which raised a wonderful amount of money which will help support the fantastic work done by Highreach year in, year out. I really couldn’t be more proud,” she said.