WITH the New Year now here, thoughts in Settle are turning to the children of Belarus, still badly affected by the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

The catastrophe occurred before many of the youngsters were born, yet it still has far reaching devastating effects on their health and well-being.

For a number of years the Settle community has helped these children in a practical way. Every autumn the Settle Friends of Chernobyl's Children welcome 12 youngsters aged between seven and 11, plus two interpreters, who stay with host families for four weeks.

The stay gives their fragile immune systems a much-needed break as everything in their homeland is contaminated, tainted by the radiation released when the Chernobyl nuclear reactor exploded.

During the visit the children attend a schoolroom every weekday where volunteers teach and entertain them. They spend weekends with their host families, but there are lots of activities organised by the Friends including trips out, swimming, football and even an annual trip to the dentist.

All the supervision and aid given is voluntary, with groups such as Settle Rotary Club and the WI helping out.

Each visit costs around £7,500 with ever-rising air fares and transport expenses taking up the most sizeable chunk of the budget. The Settle Friends have to raise this money well in advance each year to ensure the childrens' visit can go ahead.

Unfortunately the money is proving increasingly difficult to find and the group desperately needs new volunteers to raise funds, host children and generally help out.

Last year the Herald ran an article warning that without more volunteers and fundraising, Settle Friends of Chernobyl's Children might fold.

"We had a good response to the article and are very much encouraged, but we still need people to come forward to help. We still need a lot of support," vice chairman John Diggles told the Herald.

"We have raised around £1,000 since the article in the paper with bag packing at Booths and donations and we thank people for that, but we need at least £4,000 to ensure the 2004 visit takes place."

The group has already committed itself to running a visit this year, with the children due to arrive in September.

People can volunteer to help out in lots of different ways.

Co-ordinator Deirdre Cokell explained: "There are many things to be done both before and during the visit. People can host children, help with correspondence and help to fundraise. They can volunteer in the schoolroom, but do not have to be teachers.

"We do have people with a teaching background, but others bring special skills. For example, the children made and flew kites with a volunteer last year and they absolutely loved it. Another volunteer runs the junior football club so the children played football, which was brilliant. We always need people to help with taking them out walking and swimming - things like that."

Mr Diggles is now asking people to become patrons of the Settle Friends of Chernobyl's Children by giving a certain amount on a regular basis. He said: "I have had a tremendous response to that and I have had more than £500 in contributions so far."

There is no doubt the group faces a lot of hard work raising money so the children's visits are safeguarded in the future, but it's all worthwhile for the organisers when they see the benefits enjoyed by the youngsters.

"We see an amazing difference in the children - not just health-wise, but also in their confidence and development of their personalities. It is important to give their immune systems a boost in the years before they go into adolescence when they do a lot of growing," said Mr Diggles.

Anyone wanting to help can contact Mrs Cokell on 01729 823283.