WARM-HEARTED Tamsin Clube is fundraising for a trip to help put a smile on the faces of Romania s most needy children. The 21-year-old teaching assistant has volunteered for a three-month trip due to start in April through internet company Oysterworldwide

WARM-HEARTED Tamsin Clube is fundraising for a trip to help put a smile on the faces of Romania's most needy children.

The 21-year-old teaching assistant has volunteered for a three-month trip due to start in April through internet company Oysterworldwide.com. Once there she will care for the country's abandoned and sick children left behind in state orphanages and institutions.

Tamsin, who recently graduated from a degree in dance and drama at Winchester University, hopes to share her love of dance with the children that she meets.

She said: "That's what attracted me to the oyster company. When they interviewed me they were really interested in that part of my life and said I would have an opportunity to organise activities. I can't wait to share that with the kids."

Helping others comes at a price and Tamsin will have to raise £2,500 to cover her travel, accommodation and living costs. Fundraising is going well and she has recently raised £110 on a craft stall she ran in Christchurch, Baldock.

She said: "All the stuff I sold I made myself like little pieces of jewellery, hand-painted glasses and lavender bags with the lavender that I picked in some fields in Hitchin."

Tamsin, of Whitney Drive, Stevenage, has also been sponsored by her former secondary school Thomas Alleyne, which has pledged £100 towards her trip. She hopes to raise the rest of the money needed by selling some of her old toys and craft items on eBay along with saving up her own money.

When she returns she hopes to continue the good work by studying to be a teacher. She adds: "I might do a teacher training course when I come back or look into opening my own dance school - either way I want to carry on working with children.