A STUDENT from Duchy College who selflessly donates his time to Carefree Cornwall walked away with the ‘Young Volunteer’ prize at the annual Cornwall Celebrates Volunteering awards.

Thomas Swailes, from East Cornwall, is a Level 3 military and protective services student at the Stoke Climsland college who volunteers with Carefree Cornwall, a charity that works with young people, aged 11 to 25, who are in and leaving care.

Its aim is to give young people in and leaving care the chance to do things for themselves and others.

Thomas first encountered Carefree as a young adult himself gaining lots of different awards and skills needed to help other young people. He is now a peer mentor with them and is also on the council board making a difference for people in care.

Unbeknown to Thomas, one of the youth workers nominated him for the award and he only found out when he received a letter saying he had been shortlisted.

‘I was honoured and very shocked to have won the award,’ said Thomas.

‘It was very humbling to think that the selection board chose me.’

Team lead for military and protective services at Duchy College, Neil Harris, said the team were ‘extremely proud’ of Tom on winning his award.

‘It is a great achievement for him and great to see him being recognised for the work he does with Carefree Cornwall and he is a credit to the course and the college,’ he added.