Children offered free seaside trips

Charity organises trip to the beach for thousands of children whose families cannot afford a holiday

THOUSANDS of children from poor families are to be treated to a day out at the seaside or a theme park to give them a break.

The Secours Populaire charity is organising the initiative this week, which will benefit 50,000 children aged between six and 12.

The group has had a record number of people signing up to take part - up 15% - after a recent study by Obea/Infraforces for France Soir and 20 Minutes found 45% of French people will not be going on holiday this year for money reasons.

The "oubliés des vacances" initiative has been running since 1979 and will see trips being organised around France.

The biggest day out is tomorrow, when 4,000 children from the Ile-de-France and 1,000 volunteers will go on a coach trip to the beaches of Cabourg in Normandy.

Children in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais had their day out last week, visiting the dunes at Bray and a theme park in Belgium.

Photo: Mike Baird/Flickr