A DEDICATED youngster who gives up his free time to help his peers has been honoured for going the extra mile in his community.

Joe Lovell, a second year student at Worcester Sixth Form College, was named the winner of the second annual Rotary Club of Worcester Vigornia Young Citizen Award for his voluntary work.

He often spends his free time helping out at Dines Green Youth Club, Youthcomm Radio and working with younger members at his athletics club.

Last year, he also spent three weeks in Zambia volunteering at a summer camp teaching the younger members basic English and maths and created a Facebook campaign to collect donations of football kits for the children The youngster, who is studying A-levels in English literature, law and sociology, said: “It was a surprise to be nominated for the award, let alone to win it.

“It has been a wonderful opportunity to be able to take part in some of the Worcestershire based activities and to have had the privilege of travelling to Zambia.”

Jade Moore was named runner-up for her tenacity in overcoming a life-threatening illness and the loss of a parent, as well many hospital stays, to study at Worcester College of Technology and win a place at university.

In third place was Richard Tarbox who, despite working full time, gives much of his time to work with young people in St Peter’s, sharing his knowledge of technology with others, and helping his local church with a complex audio-visual system.

Among the other finalists were Dan Archer, Samantha Holmes, Rebekah Penrice-Randal and Sarah Tyrer, who are also students at Worcester Sixth Form College.