YEAR 7 students at Tavistock College have been throwing their weight behind a campaign to raise money for VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas), after hearing first hand about the charity's work.

Ann Mitchell, former headteacher at Lamerton Primary School, is travelling to Nepal in August, to undertake a two-year assignment, boosting education prospects for girls in rural Nepal.

She has been giving talks in schools about the project she will be working with, for which she needs to raise a minimum of £1,500.

Ann said: 'I am so impressed with all the work the Year 7 students are putting in to it.

'After I went to do a talk in their assembly they decided they would like to use VSO for their fundraising project for the end of term.

'They're doing five-a-side football all week, a book and bake sale, a sponsored walk, a non-uniform day, Smartie challenge — it's absolutely brilliant!'

Ann intends to keep in contact with the students while she is in Nepal. She said that having spoken to current Year 6 primary school pupils, they will already know something about VSO and the project she is involved with when they transfer to Tavistock College in September.

Thanks to her own fundraising, and the efforts of primary school children in the Tavistock area, she has already exceeded her target and currently has around £2,200 for the VSO charity.

'It's fantastic — and it will all go towards alleviating poverty,' said Ann.