TWO teenagers hailed as role models have given up their Saturday mornings every week for the past year to help volunteer at a community-led initiative.

Bailey Abbott, 15, and Alec Doherty, 14 have been being volunteering every Saturday at the ParkPlay initiative in Basildon.

  • AS we come to the end of 2022, we have selected eight children from across south Essex who have gone above and beyond this year to help others or achieve something great.

Alec has been supporting the initiative for the last six months helping set up, engaging with the community, and helping tidy after.

Bailey has been volunteers for the whole of 2022, and commutes from Southend to Basildon every Saturday morning to help out and support the community in all weathers.

The ParkPlay is a two-hour long play session of fun and games for everyone, every Saturday morning for free in a local park.

Robert Collins, who works with the boys, said: “Their commitment has been nothing but incredible.

“When at times, teenagers get a bad name, they give up their own time to have a positive impact on the community, to improve health and happiness, nothing but pride in these two young boys. They are brilliant role models.”