WASHFORD woman Larry Galloway will be travelling to Romania later this month to help bring a smile to the faces of some of the country's many impoverished orphans.

As a member of the Romanian Association of Play Therapy, she will travel to Transylvania to work with Romanian therapists, teaching them a range of new techniques.

Larry specialises in helping children through play, and during her trip to Romania she will teach the country's own therapists techniques to help youngsters suffering from loss and bereavement.

With more than 20 years of experience as a social worker under her belt, Larry became involved with the Romanian group through her clinical supervisor, Sue Jennings, who is based in Wells.

"Sue had gone to Romania and seen the great need out there so set up the Romanian therapists' association," she told the Free Press.

"As a member I go out there once a year and I see it as a way of putting something back.

"It's all about working with the therapists so they can go and teach children. That way, more children can be helped in the long run.

"It's hard work, but it's brilliant."

A typical day teaching in Romania starts at 9am and finishes at 7pm, including weekends, but Larry said the commitment of the Romania therapists made all the hard work worth it.

"Some of these people have not been paid for months but they are keen and take in everything you say - they want to do what they can for the children," she said.

Larry qualified as a specialist play therapist herself ten years ago and has been running her own business since 2006, helping local children to communicate through play.

When she travels to Romania on April 24 she will be taking donations from West Somerset well-wishers with her.

Minehead Rotary Club has given her £100 and the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart in Minehead is also hoping to give £100.

All the money will be used to set up a healing garden project in Romania as part of the association's expansion into working with people with mental health problems.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to the association can contact Larry on 07778 474930.

Larry is pictured in her play therapy 'play barn' in Washford.

Photo: Steve Guscott