If your child is overweight, suffers from asthma, or has ADHD, a summer camp could offer crucial help. These camps are increasingly offering tailored healthy benefits to youngsters with a wide range of specialist needs. There is often expert help at hand and children are surrounded by others in the same position, enabling them to learn more about their conditions and to gain confidence and a sense of normality. The camps also offer respite for parents, who may otherwise spend the summer giving constant care, and lets them focus on their other children.

Carnegie Obesity Camp

Location Leeds, Yorkshire

Runs from July 13

Ages 11-17

Cost From £1,300 for a minimum of two weeks; £3,675 for a seven-week stay

Contact www.carnegieweightmanagement.com

Apply by No closing date

Obesity camps often offer highly regimented regimens that aim to achieve drastic weight loss in a short time. But the Carnegie Obesity Camp has a different ethos: it works to teach the children to learn fit, healthy habits for life, putting the emphasis on fun rather than punishment. About 300 children attend the camp for between two and seven weeks during the summer holidays.

The days are primarily occupied with physical activity and meals are prepared by a dietitian. Lifestyle classes teach the children to set their own goals and to develop a positive attitude in their behaviour and lifestyle.

Zara Hussain, 16, attended the camp last summer. “I lost a stone (6.35kg) in the five weeks I was at camp and have lost another 1st since,” she says. “I'm still losing weight, but already I'm feeling happier and much more confident. In the morning at camp you do basketball, swimming, rugby, football, gymnastics, etc, then another sports session after lunch, followed by an activity such as drama, craft or camping. In the evenings, there are always entertainment and activities - a talent show or a disco, for example.”

Before attending. Hussain was afraid that the food would be awful, but she says it was really good. “You're given a certain measured amount of the main meal component (meat or carbohydrates), as much salad as you want, and little puddings to follow as treats. Lifestyle sessions teach you about eating, exercise, and how to keep it going when you are not at camp. It's a kickstart to changing your whole lifestyle. It really is so much fun.”

Paul Gately, the Professor of Exercise and Obesity at Leeds Metropolitan University, who founded the camp, says: “I did my PhD research in America where I learnt how not to do it. My investigations showed that you need a more holistic approach, with support, education and healthy living lessons that the children can implement at home. You also need to achieve short, medium and long-term weight loss, using a high to low-intensity programme. The best way to describe the camp is a holiday camp, with two by-products: the first, to learn new behaviours; the second, to lose weight.”

Hussain certainly seems to be a convert. “The follow-up support from the camp is amazing,” she says. “I have nearly reached my goal weight and would love to go back this summer, but I'm going away with my family so I can't. Hopefully I'll still manage it on my own.”

Kick Asthma Camp

Runs from Edinburgh, July 13-19; Wales,

July 20-26; Nantwich, July 27-August 2; Northern Ireland, August 3-8; Oxfordshire, August 10-16; West Sussex, August 16-23

Ages 6-17

Cost From £150 to £350 (dependent on parents' ability to pay)

Contact www.kickasthma.org.uk

Apply by June 30

Kick Asthma runs six camps across the UK that aim to boost asthmatic children's knowledge and management of their condition in a safe environment with trained professionals. They usually take about 200 children. The activities are combined with education, which happens fairly informally throughout the week.

Jenny Parry, Kick Asthma's development manager for children and young people, says: “It's basically about self-management, giving independence through understanding and taking responsibility for their medication and condition.”

Louis Lawson, 13, attended the camp last year and says that it significantly helped his sense of independence. “It was my first holiday without Mum because I need so much medication, which makes travelling difficult,” he says.

“It was scary at first, but was a great experience. I tried lots of different things for the first time, such as canoeing, camping and rope-climbing.

“For the first time I met other children with asthma as severe as my own, so I no longer felt like the odd one out. I was taught how to manage my medication and since then have taken it myself on a day-to-day basis. Overall, the experience has really boosted my confidence. I just can't wait to see all my friends again and go on a new adventure.”

Deaf Camp UK

Location Walesby Forest Scout Centre, Retford, Nottinghamshire

Runs from August 3-9

Ages 10-15

Cost £95

Contact 020-8686 9590; info@deafcamp.org.uk

Apply by July 25

Deaf Camp UK is a week-long, annual camp for children with hearing disabilities. It is run by volunteers, most of whom are either deaf or fluent in sign language.

The children get to try activities such as archery, climbing, football, rugby, kayaking and camping. The focus of the camp is to introduce deaf children to other deaf people and children, to share experiences and remove barriers, without the feeling of isolation that can often result from this condition.

Camp Quality UK

Location Newbarn, Dorset: August 2-9; Chamonix, France: August 9-16

Ages Dorset, 6-13; Chamonix, 14-16

Cost Free (charity)

Contact www.campquality.org.uk

Apply by No closing date for applications

Camp Quality UK was launched primarily to put a burst of fun into the lives of children who have cancer or leukaemia. The camps give these children the opportunity to feel like they are not just the “kid with cancer”, at the same time liberating them to talk about things that may alienate schoolfriends and other youngsters who do not know about the disease. Camp Quality UK encourages the children to try new things, such as rock-climbing, and to regain their courage and confidence.

Add Up

(for children with ADHD),

Location Hornchurch, Essex

Runs from July 28-August 21

(four days a week, non-residential)

Ages 5-18

Cost asks for contribution

Contact 01708 454 040; www.addup.co.uk

Apply by No closing date for applications

Children with ADHD are often markedly creative, so the camp's activities are based around arts and craft therapy, with circus skills and trampolining as sports for younger children, and football and water activities for older children.

A mentor scheme is in place for younger children to be able to ask questions about their condition without feeling that there is any stigma attached. Staff are specially trained to deal with ADHD and to focus on the positive aspects of the condition, rather than the negatives. Many children who have had the disorder diagnosed can feel like outcasts.

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