A DETERMINED volunteer from Runcorn has vowed to help tackle poverty in Kenya – a cause close to her heart.

Ellie Roberts, 22, will travel to Kenya in January for three months with international development organisation VSO, as part of the International Citizen Service (ICS) programme.

She needs to raise £800 for VSO before she leaves, so has organised multiple fundraisers to help reach the target.

She will be hosting an indoor Christmas market in Brookvale Community Centre on December 15. The market is free entry and will be open to the public from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

There will be a tombola and lots of stalls ran by local businesses selling food and Christmas gifts.

Ellie has also arranged to complete a sponsored bungee jump and has planned a pub quiz at The Queen of Hearts pub in Murdishaw (those interested should keep an eye on their upcoming events for more information).

Ellie said: “I’m really looking forward to travelling to Kenya and getting stuck in to my project.

"I’m working with young people to tackle social inequality and improve their employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

“I’m most excited about meeting the Kenyan volunteers I’ll be working alongside, as it’ll be so interesting to find out what life is like for young people there.”

ICS allows young people aged 18 to 35 to make a valuable contribution to sustainable development projects in Africa and Asia.

More than 15,000 young people from the UK have participated on the programme since 2011.

Felicity Morgan, director of ICS at VSO, said: “Ellie will be joining thousands of other ICS volunteers who are doing amazing work around the world, every day.

“As an organisation working on the frontline against poverty, VSO sees how people across Britain play an important role in delivering UK aid.”

To support Ellie visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ellie-jane-roberts.