KCU Ltd in Kettering, formerly Kettering Centre for the Unemployed, takes youngsters who might not otherwise get a holiday on a break every year.

An appeal was launched in March to raise £13,000 to take the group of 40 children away and organisers are celebrating after reaching the target.

Donations included a £5,000 grant from BBC Children In Need, about £1,000 from Greggs the bakers, £500 from Kettering and District Lions Club, £1,000 from the Round Table and £950 from county councillor Roy Mayhew.

Park Junior School, in Kettering, raised £250 for the cause by making a mile of pennies and the rest of the money came from several other one-off donations and from the proceeds of fundraising events organised by KCU Ltd.

The children will set off for Pwllheli, North Wales, on Saturday, July 26.

Maggie Don, from KCU Ltd, said: "We are all done now, we have got the money so that's all completed and we are in the process of packing.

"The children are all excited and are starting to count the days.

"We are very pleased. We have been very lucky and have had lots of donations from people.

"We have got a full itinerary planned. We are going on a boat trip and will hopefully see some wildlife.

"We are also going go-karting and doing archery.

If the sun comes out we will go to the beach – but we have got our wellies as well."

Children who are eligible to go away on the trip include those whose parents are disabled or carers, or children who come from families who cannot afford to send them on a break. The trip to Wales will be the 21st holiday organised by the group which provides life skills and vocational training courses for adults.