A WELLINGTON musician is travelling to South Africa next month for a four-month volunteering adventure.

Chris Sampson is heading out to the deprived areas on the outskirts of Durban with Christian relief and development charity Tearfund.

Chris, 23, who graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music last year, will be helping with various existing community support and development projects including an orphanage, soup kitchens, health education and family support.

He will be mainly working in KwaDabeka, a township where the people are mostly Zulu speaking and live in shacks with no running water or electricity.

He will be joined by ten others from around the country as part of the Transform Team.

Chris said: "I am very excited about going to Durban but although we have already spent an intense five-day orientation together preparing for this trip we realise that nothing can really prepare us for the shock of seeing how so many people have to live.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference but perhaps we are the ones who will come back most changed. I know it will make me realise how lucky I am."

To help raise the £3,000 funds he needs to go on his mission, Chris is using his cello to give a concert at 7.30pm on April 7 at St James Church in Taunton.

The concert is free, and there will be an opportunity to donate towards his travels.

For more information about Tearfund and Transform visit www.tearfund.org/transform or call 0845-3558355.