A DEDICATED volunteerhas been given a national award for helping Worcestershire’s children stay fit and healthy.

Lauren Martin, of Worcester, won the Energy Club’s National Volunteer of the Week award.

The 27-year-old, who is an Energy Club volunteer at the River School, was handed the honour as a result ofher commitment to volunteering and contribution to getting local children more active and healthy.

The teaching assistant said: “Our sessions are held on a Friday when most children are tired after a long week of school, and it’s testament to the quality of the programme that the children immediately become so full of energy and thoroughly enjoy themselves.

“I love seeing their enthusiasm for it all and they’re always trying to show us who can run the fastest and who knows what foods are healthy.

“It’s so heartening to see and it really encourages you and makes you believe you are doing a good thing.

“It’s a great learning experience for me. It’s so rewarding, especially as being an adult. It’s great to be able to set a good example to show the children the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.”

Energy Club is run in addition to the normal school curriculum for children aged between four and 11 and is available to schools across the country for free.