Carla Thompson is heading for warmer climes next academic year when she goes to Thailand to teach English.

The 17-year-old student from Winchester currently attends King Edward VI School in Southampton and hopes to move on to study drama at Loughborough University.

However, in between, she has chosen to take a gap year.

Carla approached registered charity Project Trust in order to pursue her travelling ambitions and had to brave a one-week selection course on the Isle of Coll.

There she took part in a number of team-building exercises before she was selected to work for the trust overseas.

Carla feels that this trip will be "an excellent opportunity to experience an alternative culture".

Although she is not interested in becoming a teacher herself, she looks forward to working in a Thai classroom.

In order to make the trip possible, Carla must raise £3,550 on behalf of Project Trust.

She has already held a cake sale and organised a sponsored abseil and now she is appealing for unwanted items to sell at a car boot sale.

Carla is also on the lookout for sponsors to raise her total and enable her "to make a real difference in the Thai community".

Carla may be contacted on 01962-627674.