Bratton resident inspired to collect supplies after volunteering trip to Romania

A local resident is collecting essential supplies for a marginalised community in Romania after being inspired by a recent volunteering trip. 

Jess Scott, from Bratton, travelled to the village of Tarlungeni during the summer with the charity FAST, which provides educational, vocational, and community development support to disadvantaged communities in Romania where many people live in extreme poverty. 

Since returning from her trip, Jess has been gathering donations of clothing, school uniforms, shoes, and other school supplies to take back to Romania later this year. “I will be taking suitcases to the charity on visits to Romania in the next few months,” she said. “I am going back for a week in October and hope to return in December as well. I’ve had many generous donations from people in Westbury, Bratton and Dilton Marsh.” 

Jess became involved with FAST after hearing about it from a woman at her children’s school. “We had donated toys for her to take over, and each time she returned, she shared her experiences,” Jess explained. “I was always very intrigued, as it sounded like such a good cause that makes a difference.” This led her to join the charity on a trip to Romania. 

During her week in Tarlungeni, Jess took children on trips and helped organise activities for them, many of whom had never left their village. She planned an English-style sports day with sack races, egg and spoon races, three-legged races, and tunnel ball. “The children laughed so much and especially enjoyed watching the adults have a go too!” she said. 

Jess also spent time with the teenage girls at the mission house, a support centre the local community. “Talking to the teenage girls was one of my favourite parts of the week because this showed how much the mission house has made a difference,” she said. “One of the girls told me how she wanted to be a teacher. Without the mission house, the girls wouldn’t have known they could have such aspirations.”  

The mission house provides a range of services, including educational activities, social support, moral guidance, meals, and showers and it distributes food and clothing to local families. Jess saw the impact of these services during her visit and is now seeking further support from her local community. Jess said, “We often get so caught up in what we want to achieve and what we want to have and get stressed over material belongings,” she said. “I feel a sense of purpose to make a difference. Having seen what having faith really means, I feel a sense of purpose to continue to support these wonderful people.”  

Jess plans to visit local schools, community groups, and churches to raise awareness and gather more donations. So far, she has raised £170 and is collecting additional items, such as deodorants, sanitary towels, underwear, socks, toothpaste and toothbrushes, to be given as Christmas presents.  

“I hope that we can start a sponsor-a-child scheme and even pair up some local children with children from Romania, so they can write to each other, send cards, and maybe, one day, children here might like the opportunity to volunteer themselves,” she added. 

To donate items, contact Jess on 07538 201447 or email jessicarose86@yahoo.co.uk. To make a donation, visit Jess’s GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/f4090e9f.