SUPPORTERS will be leaping to the aid of Malvern charities by taking part in a sponsored abseil.

The event is one of the many activities be in held locally as part of UK Volunteers' Week.

2001 has been designated as United Nations International Year of Volunteers - a global initiative to recognise and celebrate the contribution of volunteers worldwide.

Malvern voluntary groups are trying to capitalise on the year and 25 local organisations have now signed up to take part in a series of profile-raising events.

Tomorrow (Saturday), between 10am and 4pm, intrepid representatives of the Borrowers Toy Library, Oxfam, Malvern Special Families and the Air Ambulance will abseil down the Marks and Spencer building in Worcester to raise funds for their work in Malvern.

On Monday, June 4 and Tuesday, June 5, seven local groups will be talking to shoppers about the volunteering opportunities that are available in the district.

Jo Jordan, from Malvern Volunteer Centre, said they have found an A-Z of volunteering opportunities in the area.

These include football, geology, hairdressing, line-dancing, nail decorating and underwater sports.

A skill was even found for 'Z' - zither-playing!

"If any of these are your thing then you could make a real difference to groups and individuals in the local community by sharing your skills on a one-off basis, or for longer if you enjoy it," said Mrs Jordan.

Anyone interested can visit stalls outside the Lyttelton Well, in Church Street, next week and chat to charity representatives about their voluntary work.