IVY Farm, in East Mersea, has been the scene of three unique summer camps for 22 families with disabled children during July and August.

Spread over long weekends, they have given youngsters and their parents a taste of holiday life under canvas.

The activities they enjoyed included campfire sing-songs and talent shows, a dip in the sea in specially-adapted wheelchairs, bushcraft classes, dipping for crabs and bobbing for cider apples.

There was also a chance to get to know the farm’s pair of friendly donkeys and help collect new-laid eggs from the hens.

The three events were organised by a charity called Camp Jojo, founded in memory of the late Joel Wright.

A profoundly disabled child, he enjoyed several summer breaks in East Mersea during his lifetime.

Gazette: Nicola Parry

His mother, Dr Chris Wright, from Woodbridge, now wants other disabled children to have the same chance of holiday fun that Joel once enjoyed.

Dr Wright said: “Some of these families haven’t had a holiday together in ten years, and they really deserve the chance to enjoy themselves.”

The Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdowns meant Camp Jojo was cancelled last year.

However, this year all three events went ahead, with daily Covid lateral flow tests for all taking part, and strict hygiene precautions in the specially-adapted bathrooms and other facilities.

Families travelled from as far away as Manchester to take part.

To help them relax and have a good holiday, each family taking part was supported by a pair of trained volunteers.

The charity has had financial support from solicitors Fisher Jones Greenwood, the Colchester Catalyst charity, property developer Mersea Homes, beach hut company Essex Short Breaks, the Mersea Lions club and several local Rotary Clubs together with National Lottery funding.

This has paid for tents and a marquee, and specialised equipment for disabled youngsters to use while staying at Camp Jojo.

Camp Jojo will start work on preparing an even bigger set of children’s camps for the summer of 2022.