COMMUNITY heroes who gave up their own time to help others have been celebrated at a gala evening.

Basildon, Billericay and Wickford Council for Voluntary Service hosted the Volunteers’ Awards Ceremony at Pitsea Leisure Centre, in Northlands Pavements.

The event paid tribute to community-spirited residents across a number of categories, including volunteering through hardship and team volunteering.

Cathryn Vallance, 18, of Burnt Mills, was named young volunteer of the year for her work on the Basildon Youth Council and the Young Essex Assembly. Cathryn, who works at Barnett Bears Nursery, in Basildon, said her proudest achievement was helping organise a bullying awareness day for school children at Wat Tyler Park.

She said: “I spoke to so many pupils on the day who had been bullied and often they told me they didn’t want to talk to teachers, but they were more comfortable talking to someone their own age.

“I hope it helped them get their problems out in the open. I went through the whole of school being bullied until my last year when I finally decided to stick up for myself.”

The judges also commended Cathryn for helping to support an elderly neighbour, by doing his shopping and picking up medical prescriptions.

She added: “I don’t really call it volunteering, I just call it being a good neighbour.”

Basildon MP Stephen Metcalfe and Wickford MP Mark Francois were on hand to give out the awards.

The service offers information, advice, guidance, training and support services to more than 350 voluntary groups working within Basildon.