I had two reasons for signing up as a volunteer on a children's activity holiday in Devon. The first was that I had a lot of annual leave left but no money to go anywhere. The second was that, well, it was a terribly worthy thing to do. I work in politics and frequently work on projects that talk about child poverty or quality of life but I wasn't doing anything on a practical level. A holiday as a volunteer, I thought, would give me kudos in the office - there would be an air about me of someone who doesn't just think about these issues, but who acts on them. I didn't really think that I might enjoy it.

Country Holidays for Inner City Kids (Chicks) is a charity that takes disadvantaged children on activity holidays. Chicks has two bases, Milton Abbot in Devon and St Austell in Cornwall. I stayed at the Devon base, about half a mile from the Cornwall border. As soon as the Chicks van picked me up from Exeter I knew it was going to be a good week - on the hour long drive from Exeter to the edge of Dartmoor there were lollipops aplenty.

Excess energy (the kids', not mine) was used up on arrival on the two trampolines in the grounds. Meanwhile the Chicks staff briefed the volunteers. My role was to join in, encourage and have fun. There was also a child protection briefing. I was impressed by the standards of care and the measures taken to protect both the children and the volunteers.

As a city girl, I'm not too good at the dirty, smelly side of the country, or at dealing with animals. Other aspects of the countryside delighted me though: the greenery, the open space, and the fact you can see stars at night.

The first outside activity of the holiday was a horse ride on Bodmin Moor. I managed to miss this as it was back to Exeter for me to pick up a late arrival. But I was back in time to join the group for a run around on the beach in Newquay and a trip to the aquarium. So far so good I thought. I'd completed a day and managed to avoid mud, getting wet and anything involving heights. All three, however, were to make an appearance the next day.

At the Heatree Activity Centre we got kitted up with safety ropes. The task was to climb up a very tall tree first using a ladder and then staples in the tree before making onto a tiny platform and jumping across to another platform high up in another tree. "Come on kids, you can do it." I was, I decided, very good at fulfilling the encouragement role. The motto was to go as far as you felt comfortable, and then go one step further.

Then they rounded on me: "Your turn Ellie!" Now I'm a lot bigger than a 12 year old and I wasn't sure the ropes would hold. But with a group of kids all having completed the task and all cheering me on there was no way I could back down. "Go as far as you can and then one step more," they shouted. And, well, when you've been reprimanding kids for bad language you can't turn around and tell them where to go. So I went one step further, and then another and another. Then I jumped to the final tree and was lowered to the ground by rope. Wow. It wasn't just the kids who felt a sense of achievement that day.

I still felt on a high that afternoon when the mud was introduced. I realised I had to go for it. One of the assault course activities was a web of ropes. I had to wear a blindfold while one of the kids told me whether to climb over a rope or crawl through the mud under it. "Put your hand there," she said. "You have to give me more information than that. Left or right? In front or behind?" I cried. Squelch. Too late, I was on my bum in the mud. That wasn't as cold, of course, as the pond we ended up in while trying to get across in a boat. "Ellie stacked it," went the group "ha ha ha ha ha." They didn't believe that I had done it deliberately for their amusement.

There were other activities too: a day spent at woodland's near Totnes dashing down slides and tobogganing down hills, swimming, cycling, ten pin bowling and a karaoke disco. And when there wasn't an organised activity we were in the games room playing basketball or air hockey or back outside bouncing on the trampolines.

The week I volunteered the kids were aged between 12 and 16, though Chicks also run holidays for 8 to 11-year-olds. We bonded in the mud and during evening activities such as face painting. I had been a bit worried that at 25 I was too young to be a "responsible adult" and that perhaps I would have no authority. I needn't have worried, "you look about 35," one of the girls told me on the first night when guessing my age.

Dinner each night was cooked by the Chicks cook. It was proper comfort food - shepherd's pie, lasagne, bangers and mash, with ice cream or jelly or chocolate mousse. And there was always plenty of fruit available. Breakfast was as much toast, porridge, cereal or fruit as you could eat. And for lunch fantastic sandwiches cut into shapes by the Chicks staff. I was tremendously excited when my sandwich came cut into an E (for Ellie) on day one. I was even more excited by the star the next day and the jigsaw puzzle sandwich the next.

Bedtime for the kids was at about 10.30pm after a drink, some biscuits and a chat about the day ("What was the best bit?" "When Ellie stacked it, ha ha ha ha ha"). The adults were also ready for bed by then, though there wasn't a whole lot of sleep to be had. Much of the night was spent ensuring the girls stayed in the girls' room and the boys in the boys' room. The little sleep we did get was in bunks made by prisoners at Dartmoor.

At the end of the week the kids, all of whom said the week was brilliant, were sad to go. I'd had a brilliant week too, though I was rather relieved it was over as I was ready for a long hot bath and a proper bed. I shall however be doing the same again next year and this time I will be the first one volunteering to climb the trees.

· It costs Chicks £252 to give a child a holiday. If you would like to make a donation ring 01822 870 692 or visit chicks.org.uk.

Way to go

Chicks, chicks.org.uk, 01822 870 692
Activity holidays for children who would not otherwise get a holiday. Bases in Devon and Cornwall. March-December. Travel expenses (up to £50) paid. Volunteers aged 18 and above.

· Volunteers on holidays for children must provide references and have a CRB check

Other volunteering breaks

Peak Holidays, asthma.org.uk, 020 7704 5892
Week long activity holidays for children with asthma held in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England. All volunteers go on a training weekend prior to the holiday. Volunteers aged 18 and above.

The Children's Country Holidays Fund, childrensholidays-cchf.org, 0207 928 6522
Week long holidays and weekends for children in need aged 7-12. Sites in the south-east of England. All costs covered. Weeks in the Easter and summer holidays. Weekends year round. Volunteers aged 18 and above.

The National Trust, nationaltrust.org.uk, 0870 429 2429
Working holidays throughout the year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, involving people in outdoor conservation in beautiful places. Holidays range from two to seven days and cost from £55 (not including travel expenses) a week including food and hostel-type accommodation. Volunteers aged 17 and above.

The National Trust for Scotland, thistlecamps.org.uk, 0131 243 9470
Residential working holidays organised by The National Trust for Scotland to help in the conservation and management of countryside properties in its care. Seven to 21 days from £50 (not including travel expenses). March to October. Volunteers aged 18 and above or special holidays for 16-18-year-olds.

Waterway Recovery Group, wrg.org.uk, 01923 711114.
Residential Canal Camps throughout the year, offering volunteers a fun week learning new skills whilst restoring the country's canals. Holidays range from two to seven days and cost from £10 for a weekend, £35 for a week (not including travel expenses). Volunteers aged 17 and above.