A CALDICOT youth has earned a prestigious Award of Excellence for helping a group of disabled people with their garden and sports activities.
David Rogers, 19, who has clocked up 200 hours of community service under the Millennium Volunteers initiative, is to be presented with his award this week by David Davies, National Assembly Member for Wales.
The presentation will take place at Boverton House in Bulwark Road, Chepstow, where David has been helping a group of Mencap Freelanders for nearly a year.
Chepstow Mencap manager Pam Ellis said: "David has been a very reliable volunteer and this consistency is so important for anyone working alongside people with learning disabilities.
"I have seen him grow in confidence through his volunteering, so I think we have all benefited."
Jan Williams, the project leader for Action Cycle, which is part of Community Service Volunteers and the coordination partner for Millennium Volunteers in Monmouthshire, said: "I believe that the good work young people are doing in the communities should be acknowledged and Millennium Volunteers is an excellent way for us to do that.
"David is living proof that a carefully chosen voluntary project can bring a young person fun, new friends, useful experience and self-confidence, so this award is an additional benefit for him."
David said: "I didn't realise when I first went to Jan to find something worthwhile to do that this would end up being one of the best things I ever did.
"I shan't give up now I have got this award, because I still get so much out of it."