AN A-Level student from Brierfield who hopes to eventually teach abroad will this summer take the first steps towards her goal when she travels to Russia on a charity project.

Katie Belshaw, 17, of Reedley Road, Brierfield, is currently studying at Nelson and Colne College for her A-Levels in German, French, English and Politics.

In her spare time, the former Mansfield High School student is a Guide Ranger in Nelson and a Young Leader at a Brownie group in Brierfield.

It was through her participation with the Guide Association that she found out about the Taiga Task project.

On August 3 she will set off with nine other girls from the North West to meet with between 50 and 70 Russian girls in Eastern Siberia.

She will spend two weeks teaching and some time training with the Russian Guide leaders in Irkutstk, before stopping off in Moscow on the way home. But she must first raise £1,400 for her travel expenses and teaching materials.

She said: "I will be out there for three and half weeks and will be training with Russian guide leaders.

"They are not a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) because they don't have a structure of their own.

"We will be teaching them about our infrastructure, about accounts and passing on our ideas in the hope they can become a member.

"The Taiga Task project is a five-year programme with the whole of Russia and England. Each region in England is linked to a region in Russia.

"I have already been on a camping trip with some of the Russian girls when they came over here so will know some of them.

"We will be going to a residential camp for Russian girls from the age of seven years to early twenties.

"We will hold workshops based on language, learning different topics each day such as the comparisons between English and Russian families, housing and leisure.

"We will also have a Christmas Day, Poppy Day and April Fools Day.

"Schools over there can only afford to run for about half a day and the Guide groups meet two or three times a week so they are just as important. The groups give them independence from their families.

"I am a very much looking forward to the trip; slightly nervous, admittedly, but really excited that I have this great opportunity to see Russia and meet the Russian girls."

Katie has already secured £400, with another possible grant from the European Youth Exchange Programme on its way, but she still needs help in raising the rest of the £1,400 target figure.

She is also appealing for teaching materials such as pens and paper.

Anyone wanting to sponsor her or make a donation should contact her on 01282 699231.