TRUSTEES at The Ray Collins Charitable Trust have said they worked flat-out throughout the summer to help people in the community.

The trust, which say it has seen its ‘busiest summer ever’, supports a range of good causes in the Wantage area.

This summer it has been specifically working with several local families in crisis.

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Kick-starting the summer holidays the charity invited 20 families – made up of about 85 people including 57 children – to a day out at Beale Park.

The wildlife park, on the banks of the Thames near Reading, usually costs about £35 for a family ticket – but the trust paid everybody’s entry.

The large group were also transported for free being invited to board a large coach at Fitwaryn School in Wantage and a minibus bought the group earlier in the year.

On arrival Mr Collins also divvied out special vouchers for food and said it alleviated ‘financial pressure’ on the families.

In total, the day cost about £1,400 and was paid for from funds raised at this year's Wantage Carnival in June – organised by the trust – and other fundraisers.

Trustees also put on a series of events at Wantage Leisure Centre during the summer holidays with support from Wantage cleaning firm Ultra Home Services.

The team ran five two-hour sessions full of activities every Thursday morning.

Youngsters could adorn their faces with colourful paint, try a spot of rock climbing or let loose on the bouncy castle.

Other activities included table tennis, zumba and arts like temporary henna tattoos and nail painting stations.

Special guests also popped in over the five weeks including the senior management team from Better Leisure, councillors from the Vale of White Horse District Council and the Mayor of Wantage.

During the summer more than 300 children and parents went to the free sessions.

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Mr Collins said they were a ‘huge success’ and if all goes to plan then a similar summer workshop will be run next year.

He added: “The trust's activity days have made a real difference to deserving families in our community and helped take some of the financial pressures off them."

Sadly, during the last days of the summer, Mr Collins revealed his mother had passed away, so several local parents took over the organisation.

He said: “I had been awake for 30 hours and was obviously emotionally drained but was determined the event would go ahead and the final day trip on the following Monday as it’s what my mother would have wanted.

“Both did go ahead in memory of my mum who was a huge supporter of my fundraising for the last 14 years and of the trust and the work they do helping those in need in our community, particularly anything that helped children and struggling families.”

At the end of the summer Mr Collins was handed a framed photo collage of the festivities to commemorate his trust's summer of fun.