Students arrive in East Africa for volunteering trip

Seven lucky students touched down in Tanzania today for a volunteer placement at a children's centre.

The second year Level 3 Health and Social Care learners, all due to qualify this summer, will be working at The Mother's Mercy Children's Centre in Arusha during their visit.

Grace Clerk, 18, Rebecca Hetherington, 17, Shana Walton, 19, Lilly Elstob, 18, Gabrielle Conway, 19, Lily Dodds, 18, and Caitlin Wilson, 18, have been joined by staff Paula Taylor, Laura Stobbs, Paige Dawson and Georgina Peart.

Their efforts will be rewarded with activities including a local tribe and village tour, visit to a waterfall and a wildlife safari drive.

The trip has been funded via the Government's Turing Scheme and is the latest visit abroad for Bishop Auckland College students, following earlier trips this year to Italy and Portugal.