Jacqui Budd – I first met Robin Marchent when I popped along to interview Gill Harrison about the Christmas Sparkle Project , a charity that aims to give a Christmas gift to every child living in difficult circumstances. It was one of their mass wrapping events and Robin was participating.

I was impressed that a sixteen year old  had given up his Saturday to support this cause.  It turned out that he had been along to the wrapping events since he was six. Initially he was taken by his Mum Julia as she was unable to find a babysitter for him and Robin has been a stalwart ever since. We started chatting and I was so impressed with his enthusiasm that I arranged a separate interview with him.

I recently had another chat with Robin after being told he had won the ‘Community Hero Award’ an annual youth award honouring individuals aged 21 and under in Somerset; to celebrate young people who make a positive impact through volunteering, caring and fundraising.

Apparently, this year there were an “unprecedented number of nominations” and Robin came out tops.

As well as participating in the Christmas Sparkle project, he is involved with his local church, helps in the community café, volunteers with ARC Taunton (formerly Taunton Association for the Homeless), does gardening for pensioners in his village and participates in litter pick-ups .

Robin is such a modest young man and it was his modesty as well as his passion for helping others that impressed the judges.

Here is a photo of him with the beautiful trophy.

Robin is truly an outstanding young man .