A WEST Devon Girlguiding UK member and adult helper with First Roborough Guides is getting ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime later this year, when she travels to Sri Lanka to take part in an exciting community development project.

Travelling alongside five other Girlguiding UK members, Nichola Gilbin, from Yelverton, will participate in the Guiding Overseas Linked with Development scheme — otherwise known as GOLD.

She will travel to Sri Lanka for several weeks this summer and will take part in a range of vital community development projects.

The GOLD project has been one of the core opportunities open to Girlguiding UK members between the ages of 17 and 30 since its inception 21 years ago, with participants travelling as far afield as Honduras, Madagascar, Russia, South Africa and Thailand.

Nichola, 27, is working hard to raise funds ahead of her trip to Sri Lanka, including carol singing last Christmas, organising a quiz and hosting a Sri Lankan-themed evening.

Nichola said: 'I chose to take part in GOLD because I wanted to immerse myself in another culture, meet new friends and make a real difference to people's lives. I am looking forward to representing my country and being part of a unique experience.

'Guiding has influenced my life as it has given me a range of new skills and enabled me to travel to places I could only have dreamed of.

'It has also given me the confidence to put myself forward for situations and opportunities that I wouldn't have done had I not been involved in guiding for most of my life.'

For more information about GOLD, and how to join Girlguiding UK visit http://www.girlguiding.org.uk">www.girlguiding.org.uk