A YOUNG Paxford Girlguiding assistant leader is jetting off to the Maldives as part of a community development project.

Abby Young, 22, is embarking on the journey of a lifetime with five other Girlguiding members to participate in the GOLD scheme - Guiding Overseas Linked with Development.

The group goes out in August and once there she will spend three weeks taking part in a range of community development projects ranging from leadership skills and programme workshops for leaders and young leaders, to supporting the national training team in updating their training methods.

“I’m so excited to be involved in such a unique and vibrant project like GOLD. Travelling to the Maldives is going to be an experience I will never forget," said Miss Young, who a member of the 1st Chipping Campden Guides.

“GOLD represents what guiding is all about. It’s about breaking down barriers and having fun with others. We, as a group, are really hopeful we can achieve this during our time in the Maldives”.

The project has been one of the core opportunities open to Girlguiding members between the ages of 18 and 30 since its inception over 20 years ago, with participants travelling as far afield as Peru, Madagascar, Latvia, Rwanda and Cambodia.

She needs to raise £2,300 to pay for her passage and has a fundraising page where donations can be made. It can be found at: https://www.justgiving.com/AbbyMaldives16