28551/1 Special needs youngsters from around west Wiltshire enjoyed the fun and entertainment on offer at a two-week activity scheme in Trowbridge.
The West Wiltshire Special Needs Activity Scheme took place at Walwayne Court Primary School from August 2 and finished last Friday.
Children over six years old took part and were given one-to-one support from volunteers.
Gill Morris, co-ordinator, said: "We had entertainers, art classes, soft play as much as we could fit in really."
Activities included a workshop and puppet show from the Ticklish Allsorts, dance therapy sessions, circus acts, a trip to Longleat, a pretend Christmas day, and a visit from firemen.
Mrs Morris said: "They all thoroughly enjoyed it and we got tears at the end of the day because they thought they wouldn't be able to come back."
On the last day a disco in the morning was followed by an appearance from Kooky the Clown.
Volunteer teenager James Watson turned up to organise the disco. His sister, Emma, benefited from the activity scheme a number of years ago.
Mrs Morris thinks not only the children but also the 50 volunteers, who are mainly teenagers, benefit from the scheme.
She said: "They really enjoy it. They get the experience, they get to be able to see a different sort of life supporting special needs children and some of them even go back to the children they have supported to do babysitting.
"The scheme helps not only the special needs children but also the volunteers, plus the families. It gives an insight into a different way of life."
Most of the volunteers, such as teenagers Lauren Newman, Ty Rogers, Amy Harrison, Wendy Chard, Michael Hodgson, Lee Hodgson, James Humphries and Emma Williams, were taking time out from their summer holidays to help out.
Mrs Morris has been involved with the scheme for 19 years.
She said: "I started off as a volunteers and I have just gone up the scale and now I've been running it for a number of years."
The scheme runs for two weeks each year in the summer holidays and there is a similar scheme for younger children at Stepping Stones Infant School.
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