Up, up and away – thrill of a lifetime for Action for Children youngsters

• Cambrian Flying club fly youngsters around the South Wales coast thanks to Aviation without Borders
• ‘Best thing I’ve ever done,’ says Bridgend youngster, Oliver

Children and young people supported by Action for Children across South Wales have enjoyed a flight of a lifetime from Swansea Airport on June 9th as Cambrian Flying Club flew them along the South Wales coast and Swansea Bay thanks to the charity, Aviation without Borders (AWB) and their National Fly Kids Day initiative.

Each year in June, AWB organises an aviation discovery day where children all over the country, from Aberdeen in the north of Scotland to Jersey in the Channel Islands, are invited to their local airport for the day and are taken on a short flight. AWB works closely with many UK children’s charities, flying clubs and flying organisations all contributing to the day and flies around 400 children.

Oliver Davies, (12), from Bridgend said: ‘It was brilliant and I even got to co-pilot the plane. We flew along the coast as far as Cardiff Airport and it is one of the best things I’ve ever done.’

The youngsters were drawn from a number of Action for Children projects such as Bridgend Young Carers that supports young people who work around the clock providing care and support to a family member and Carmarthen’s Family and Community team, based in Llanelli, which provides early years and family support throughout Carmarthenshire.

Sue Marsden, Practice Team Lead for Carmarthenshire Targeted Family Support, said: ‘Our children and young people had a brilliant experience flying in beautiful Swansea weather. They have faced a number of challenges already in their young lives and are responding brilliantly. To be able to give them a treat like this was wonderful so a huge thanks to Aviation without Borders and the Cambrian Flying Club for making it happen.’

For further media information please contact Alastair Love, media officer at Action for Children, on 02920 347068 / 07872 675688 / alastair.love@actionforchildren.org.uk

Out–of–hours enquiries should be directed to the duty press officer on 07802 806679/ media.team@actionforchildren.org.uk