TO celebrate their 50th birthday, leading UK development charity VSO is calling for more people to join them and take a stand against global poverty.

The charity, supported by Newquest group newspapers including the Argus, has seen more than 32,000 volunteers help their cause since 1958.

Working in countries from Bangladesh to Zambia volunteers have changed their lives and made a real difference to thousands of others.

Their aim is to create a world without poverty in which people work together to fulfil their potential by bringing people together to share skills, creativity and learning to build a fairer world.

VSO welcomes volunteers from an ever increasing range of countries, backgrounds and ages.

National agencies in Canada, Kenya, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Ireland and India recruit volunteers from many different countries worldwide.

This international approach allows them to combine and learn from a rich variety of perspectives.

Judith Brodie, Director of VSO UK explained: "VSO believes that people can make a real difference to other people and so we focus on linking people together to share skills and experience to learn from each other.

"There is so much to gain from volunteering with VSO, not only the experience of living in a different country, but also an insight into how the world operates.

"Volunteering is a two-way process, so as well as the volunteers going to share their skills they also learn a lot too.

"Coming back to the UK volunteers can share what they've learnt and so bring their two communities together."

Backers of the charity also include broadcaster and charity president Jonathan Dimbleby.

If you would like to become a VSO volunteer or find out more about the charity and their work, log-on to their website www.vso.org.uk.

If you were ever a VSO volunteer and would like to join in their anniversary celebrations, email 50th@vso.org.uk or call 020 8780 7500.

VSO facts VSO is an international development charity that works through skilled professional volunteers in 34 countries mostly in Africa and Asia.

Since 1958 VSO has sent over 32,000 people to share their skills with some of the poorest communities in the world.

VSO recruits volunteers not only from the UK but also Canada, India, Ireland, Netherlands, Kenya, Philippines, and Uganda.

31 percent of VSO volunteers are over 50, and the average age of VSO volunteers is 41.

VSO recruits volunteers with skills and experience in education, health, business and management, engineering and natural resources.

VSO also has two programmes for people aged 18-25, Youth for Development and Global Xchange.