YOUNG carers have been given a much needed financial boost by the Swindon Charity Ball fund.

The organisation gave away £20,000 to four charities, the Friends Of Swindon Young Carers, NSPCC, children’s cancer charity CALM and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Swindon Charity Ball was held in conjunction with Rotary International, at the Marriott Hotel, in Pipers Way, in May this year.

Chairman Hadyn Beer said: “I thought long and hard about who I wanted to be the recipients this year and decided on children’s charities.

“The work of Great Ormond Street Hospital and the NSPCC is widely known but what CALM and Friends Of Swindon Carers do for children is phenomenal and incredibly deserving of these funds.”

Friends Of Swindon Young Carers were presented with a cheque for £3,700 by Mr Beer at the Marriott on Wednesday.

The money has already been used to fund a trip for 12 young carers aged 12 to 15 to the Young Carers’ Festival in Winchester, Hampshire.

Treasurer Deb Bignell said: “This was a tremendous weekend where the children could get away from their caring responsibilities for a short while and just enjoy being young and having fun.

“These trips are so important in giving carers a break from the huge responsibility they have and we can’t thank the Charity Ball enough for making it happen.”

Richard Crowley, of children’s cancer charity CALM, said the £6,300 awarded to them would go towards buying a caravan so sick children and their families could take a much-needed holiday.

“When your child is going through chemotherapy or radiotherapy, it just really isn’t an option to take them on holiday, especially abroad,” he said.

“You’re plagued by these worries like, ‘what if they fall ill overseas?’ and ‘will they be able to get treatment if we’re abroad?’ “CALM has two caravans based in Exmouth and Tenby where families can take their children for a break away from everything.

“We like to replace the caravans every few years so that families can have the very best and that time has now come.”

Next year’s Swindon Charity Ball will be held at the Marriott on May 15.

The theme is yet to be decided but sponsors are now being sought.

To sponsor the event call Hadyn Beer on 07887 508877.