You might have expected globetrotting Michael Stewart – one of the world’s leading trauma counsellors – to enjoy a rest when he took early retirement.

Mr Stewart worked in the aftermath of tragedies such as the Bradford City fire and the Herald Of Free Enterprise ferry sinking at Zeebrugge, helping victims rebuild their lives.

But now, rather than rest, he plans to help street children in South Africa, and he would welcome your help.

The father-of-five, who trained as a psychiatric nurse, is a joint founder of the Centre for Crisis Psychology at Broughton Hall, near Skipton, which has counsellors on constant standby.

With wife Karen, 48, Mr Stewart is spending months at a time in Cape Town giving help to projects helping the destitute.

And while he’s back home he’s using his charms to raise funds for a charity the couple has set up, Cape Kids, with the help of their neighbour Robert Weather-all, who used to live in South Africa.

Mr Stewart, 57, of Appletreewick, near Skipton, said: “There is enormous poverty in South Africa.”

Michael has a blog giving an insight into his time in South Africa. It is at capewonders.blogspot.com.

You can e-mail him at mchstw4@aol.com.