She has long dreamed of travelling and putting her skills to use by helping people in another country.

And now Norfolk nurse Kate Winser, 33, is getting ready to travel to Belize to spend nine months volunteering with children.

Ms Winser, who grew up in Cranworth, near Hingham, and now lives in Norwich, said she was looking forward to her stay in the Central American country, which would start in January next year.

She said: 'The work shall be with children with learning disabilities and helping them to access the local school.

'I have wanted to use both my professional and creative skills in another country.

'I have the wanderlust gene and am very excited that I can continue with my love of travelling and encountering new cultures and customs, along with my love of nursing and working with children with learning disabilities. If I don't take this opportunity now, I never will.'

The trip is being done through a charitable organisation called United Partners of the Gospel (USPG), which is an experience exchange programme.

Ms Winser said: 'I shall receive pastoral support out there which will be wonderful and everything will be new and unknown.

'In July, I had an intense week of training to prepare and equip for all the trials and tribulations which would potentially arise. During this time I was set on Peru, but due to funding and other reasons, I decided it wouldn't be feasible. Belize had been on my mind for a while and investigations were duly made by the USPG director and since then my program has fallen into place.'

Ms Winser, who has worked as a nurse at East Anglia's Children's Hospices Quiddenham base for the past six years, is now raising money for the trip.

In Belize, she will be based in Orange Walk Town, which, with a population of about 13,400.

In November, Ms Winser is planning to do a sponsored 15-mile walk along part of the Norfolk Coast Path from Wells-next-the-Sea to Sheringham as part of her fundraising efforts.

Ms Winser is interested to hear from anyone who may be able to sponsor her trip, and donations can also be made through www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kate-winser