A TAVISTOCK volunteer with Save the Children is calling for local people to become involved in spreading the word about 'World Poverty Day' on October 17.

World Poverty Day is designed by the United Nations and it is Jane Collingwood's job in the South West to ensure everybody understands the imperative need for relief.

'The message is clear — every 30 seconds, night and day, some unfortunate youngster is fated to die as a consequence of poverty,' she said.

'More than 600 million children and their families live on less than one dollar a day, which is the UN definition of absolute poverty. These are the sort of facts which need to be understood if there is to be the remotest chance of influencing the situation.'

Jane's special responsibility with Save the Children in Cornwall and Devon is to recruit and train volunteer speakers to take the message to schools and village halls.

She said being a volunteer had enormous rewards: 'I think ordinary people would be

surprised how they can become accomplished speakers in no time, if they care about the situation and are given a chance.

'Schoolchildren, in particular, demonstrate their concern, especially when they themselves are invited to count individual grains or corn or measure beakers of murky drinking water.'

As the demand for basic resources such as adequate food, water healthcare, accommodation and education grows year by year, so the demand for more speakers soars in the Cornwall and Devon region.

'I would encourage anyone who shares our concern and who feels he or she might have a speaking-out role to play, to contact me immediately,' she said. 'Full training and back-up are provided and I can promise you tremendous job satisfaction.'

Jane can be contacted on 01822 610919.