Eighteen-year-old Nicky Varney, from Radstock, is embarking on a fundraising mission to fund her trip to Nicaragua where she will be volunteering with Raleigh I.C.S.

Nicky has been given the target of £800 which she needs to reach before September of this year, when she will be off on her volunteering trip. She has decided to reach this target by opening her own charity tea room, which will be held at the Radstock Tea Rooms.

Nicky said: "St.Nicholas's Church in Radstock have allowed me to organise some fundraising in their tearooms, I have arranged to open the tearooms from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the 20th, 22nd, 27th and 29th of July 2013, selling tea and homemade cakes to raise money for Raleigh International. My charity tearoom is a way of making sure developing countries can continue to benefit from the work of future volunteers, so it's vital I reach my target."

The International Citizen Service (ICS) is government funded and allows young people, aged eighteen to 25, to contribute to long-term development projects in countries like Nicaragua, India and Tanzania. The scheme offers the chance to develop personally and learn about team working and leadership on projects that are of genuine value to communities around the world. On return to the UK, ICS volunteers undertake an 'Action at Home Project', ensuring that their new skills also benefit their local communities. The project that Nicky will be working on is run by the development charity, Raleigh International, which aims to tackle issues related to the Millennium Development Goals, by creating multiple overseas projects that are designed to bring about lasting change for communities in developing countries.

While she is volunteering in Nicaragua, she will be living and working in a rural Nicaraguan community on a project that has specifically requested help, where she will be working alongside Nicaraguan volunteers, helping to tackle issues around education, health, livelihoods, strengthening civil society and protecting the environment. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside people from a different culture who have requested help from young volunteers to fight poverty and make a difference where it's needed most.

To sponsor Nicky's visit, head online to: http://www.justgiving.com/Nicky-Varney1">www.justgiving.com/Nicky-Varney1 or pop into her charity tea room, held at the Radstock Tea Rooms, on Saturday, 20th July, Monday, 22nd July, Saturday 27th July or Monday, 29th July and sample her home made tea and cakes.