By ROBERT GIBSON robert.gibson@hexham-courant.co.uk

Last updated at 21:32, Friday, 05 March 2010

STAFF at a Newcastle-based charity, which aims to help children in the developing world, have praised the efforts of a young Prudhoe man who is working with them.

Charity work: Prudhoe man Greg Orrock is pictured with athlete and founder of Comrades of Children Overseas, Steve Cram.

Greg Orrock (21) is one of 500 people from around the UK given the opportunity to spend two months with their chosen charities as part of the World of Difference initiative.

Through this, Vodafone pays the organisations to offer experience to the next generation of philanthropists.

Greg is one of three individuals who have chosen to work with Comrades of Children Overseas (COCO), whose operations manager Lucy Phillipson said: “Greg’s been a real asset and has fitted in superbly at the office.

“We’re a small team and rely heavily on volunteers to help us achieve our aims.

“In a sector that cannot afford lavish staff costs, to have an extra full-time member of staff paid for over a two month period can have a real impact.”

COCO was set up by local Olympic athlete Steve Cram in 1998 after he took part in the Comrades Marathon in South Africa. It provides health and education projects for impoverished children in the developing world and currently works in Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya and Ghana.

Greg, a recent maths graduate at Lancaster University, said: “I was keen to get involved with a charity that makes a difference to the lives of underprivileged children overseas and was impressed with COCO’s long-term approach to solving complex problems in developing countries.

“‘It’s proved to be really engaging and varied work and I’m loving every minute.”

First published at 09:43, Friday, 05 March 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk