TWO teenagers who put in hundreds of hours of voluntary work have been rewarded for their efforts.

Bethany Barnes and Kathryn Cobain, both aged 18, were presented with Young Leaders in Service Awards by the Worcester Lions.

The presentation at the Whitehouse Hotel in Foregate Street, Worcester, was the first time that the club has given out the awards.

A spokesman for the Worcester Lions said: “We actively started encouraging young people to take part just over a year ago and were delighted that Bethany and Kathryn were the first two young people that their club had sponsored to have completed this award.”

In order to achieve a gold award Kathryn, from Drakes Broughton, completed more than 120 hours of community work over a four-month period.

She did over 18 hours helping as a young leader with 1st Kempsey Guides and 102 hours helping at Worcester’s New Hope Centre, which provides daytime and short break care for families who have children and young people with disablilites and complex health care needs. Bethany, from Worcester, was presented with both the gold and silver awards having completed a total of 132 hours over a 12-month period.

She completed those hours as a young leader at 1st Worcester Scouts at a residential summer camp on Brownsea Island and weekly meetings looking after scouts and cubs. She also completed a total of 50 hours over a nine-month period during term time as a young leader with the Scouts.

The Young Leaders in Service scheme was relaunched by Lions International a couple of years ago. Ian Haffner, 1st Vice District Governor for the Midlands Lions District, presented them with their certificates, a congratulatory letter from the Lions International President and their badges.

The awards are aimed at encouraging young people between the ages of 11 and 18 to give significant levels of service in their community and to acknowledge, reward and celebrate their efforts.

To gain this award they need to complete 50 hours to gain the silver award and 100 hours to gain the gold award in a 12-month period. It can be for work that they are already doing in the community or a new incentive that they would like to be involved with.

Anyone who would like to take part in the Young Leaders in Service scheme should e-mail Janet Long on ylis@lions105m.org.uk.