A GENEROUS teenager has been nominated as volunteer of the year as part of the annual Newport Night Of Honour Awards .

Chelsea Richards, of Duffryn, has been volunteering in the community for the past four years with the aim to get children involved in sport.

The 17-year-old commits more than 20 hours of voluntary work in the community and five hours a week at her school, engaging around 40 to 50 young people in projects such as community dance and the Tuesday Night Project in Duffryn.

The sixth form A-level student at Duffryn High School aims to go on to study childcare at Cardiff University in 2015.

The Kings Church has teamed up with the Argus for the third year running to find people and organisations that have gone the extra mile to help others.

Nominations are open now for the award ceremony which will take place on September 22.

The eight categories include the above and beyond award, public service superhero award, parent of the year, volunteer of the year and community organisation of the year.

Miss Richards said: “I have been volunteering for around four years now and I really enjoy it.

“It gives me more experience working with children through running activities for children such as street dance workshops.

“I am really surprised and pleased to be nominated for this award and would like to say thank you to my mentor Danielle Penn who has given me guidance and support towards my coaching, my coach Garry Colborne and, of course, Bob Barry for nominating me.

“I am hoping to keep up the volunteering work as I would like to work with children when I am older.”

Miss Richards never misses a volunteering session at community swimming lessons, West Cluster community netball , and at Maesglas Community Centre.

Her nominator Bob Barry, learning coordinator for the Newport West Communities First Clusters, said: "Chelsea has been volunteering for over two years and the progress she has made is nothing short of incredible.

“When she first started to volunteer, she was very shy and lacked confidence and didn’t really see herself as able to become a volunteer.

“As time went on, she began to gain more confidence in her own ability and began to enjoy what she was doing.

“From where Chelsea started, in not really engaging in sessions and not particularly enjoying sport, to where she is now, a qualified sports leader and role model in her community, has been a great journey. “

To nominate an individual or organisation, fill out the form and send it to: Night of honour, Kings Church,71 Lower Dock street, Newport, NP201EH.

Nominations must be received by midday on August 30.

You can also enter online on the Kings Church Website.

Please email info@newportsoh.org.uk.