AS our cold wet winter moves slowly towards spring I write to ask people in Tavistock to help the world's poorest children.
One in four children around the world live in poverty, that's 600 million children. The odds are heavily stacked against them, here in the UK and in over 60 countries overseas Save the Children is working with these children and their families.
No one knows more about their struggles, and no one has more enthusiasm and energy to change their lives than the children themselves — but they need your help.
Can you spare a couple of hours during Save the Children Week this year, Sunday April 29 to Saturday May 5, to collect vital funds to help them?
Children like 12-year-old Sarifa who lives in Ladakh on the border between India and Kashmir. Sarifa is a member of her village children's committee, a group of children aged from 6 to 18, who meet regularly and make plans with village elders and local government officials to improve things for children in their village.
Collecting for just one hour at a Save the Children street collection could raise enough money to buy spades for children to plant a school vegetable garden, enabling them to grow food and raise money to help poorer children attend school.
If you can spare an hour to collect during Save the Children Week call the Volunteering Action Line 0845 606 4027 or ring Janet Greaves-Stocker, area manager 01752 563650.
Julie Walters
Actress