TWO volunteers helped set up goalball teams, a sport for visually impaired people, and worked on projects both home and abroad.

Joshua Hartley and Charlotte Frost completed placements in Ghana and Nepal through the International Citizen Service (ICS) programme.

The government-funded programme helped send the pair, from Barnoldswick, on three-month placements.

Mr Hartley, 26, lived with a family and helped set up a goalball team for those with disabilities in Ghana.

Goalball is a Paralympic team sport for people with visual impairments, where two teams of three compete to score goals using a ball with bells embedded in it, on an indoor court.

Miss Frost, 23, lived with a family in Nepal and worked on a water and sanitation project, helping to build toilets and other infrastructure, as well as working within a community to raise awareness of health issues.

Following his work in Nepal, Mr Hartley has now set up a goalball team in Blackburn, where visually impaired and fully sighted people play together, giving people with visual impediments the chance to play in a team sport.

The team now trains every other Saturday at the Blackburn Youth Zone.

Mr Hartley said: “ICS taught me a lot about the lives of people in developing countries like Ghana, and working with people with disabilities there inspired me to set up a Goalball league in Blackburn now I’ve come home. I think it’s important that visually impaired young people have the chance to take part in team sports.”

Miss Frost is now planning to set up some community projects in Barnoldswick and has discussed how she can go about setting them up with Pendle’s MP, Andrew Stephenson.

Miss Frost, who is heading abroad to act as a team leader with ICS, said: “The placement was hard, but completing it made me feel like I could take on the world. It increased my confidence and taught me more resilience. I can’t wait to be a team leader in Tanzania next year.”

During a meeting with the pair and Mr Stephenson, they discussed his work as the international development minister.

Mr Stephenson said: “I enjoyed meeting my constituents Josh and Charlotte and hearing about their great experiences on the International Citizen Service programme.

“They can be very proud of the difference they made through their project work with some of the world’s poorest communities, and I was also particularly interested to hear how they have built on their time in ICS to make a difference to the community here in the North West. I would encourage any of my constituents aged 18-25 to apply for the scheme.”

Felicity Morgan, director of ICS, said: “It is great to get the support of MPs like Andrew Stephenson.

“As an organisation working on the frontline against poverty, Voluntary Service Overseas sees how people across Britain play an important role in delivering UK aid, and is proud to support both our youth and our professional volunteers to help deliver development outcomes around the world.

“We’re passionate about supporting young people from across the UK and using their energy to tackle poverty overseas while also making a contribution to their communities back home.

“Our experience of working with young people shows they really can take on the big issues and make a difference in people’s lives.”