TOWNSFOLK are to be asked to help those who normally do the helping.

The town's Victim Support charity is about to launch a scheme where people - individuals and companies - are being asked to sponsor one of its volunteers who help victims of all types of crime.

Although none of the volunteers receive payment for the essential work they do, their additional expenses, such as travelling costs, do have to be met.

The charity is asking people to donate £150 to the organisation which will cover the cost of one volunteer's expenses for an entire year.

In return, the sponsors will receive a certificate to mark their donation and a pen picture of the volunteer they are supporting which will tell the sponsor a little about them, although no personal details will be revealed.

At the end of the year, the sponsor will be written to and informed of what the volunteer has achieved over the year.

Co-ordinator Marion Chambers said: "We have tried this scheme in the past but there is a desperate need for it at the moment.

"The volunteers work extremely hard and the only money they receive is to cover any expenses.

"We really need volunteers as the referrals we receive are ever-increasing.

"One area which has kept us busy has been criminal injury cases. We've had 18 applicants since the beginning of the year alone, to help everybody fill in their forms and receive support we need a lot of volunteers."

For more details on sponsoring a volunteer or about the work of Victim Support, call Marion Chambers on 66462.