The volunteers of Islington were given well deserved recognition on Wednesday.

Matthew Smith, a mentor from City Road charity Family Action, was named volunteer of the year at the annual Voluntary Action Islington awards.

The ceremony, held at the charity’s Pentonville Road HQ, heard how Matthew helped “Leroy” grow from shy and withdrawn at 11 to confident and outgoing at 14. Matthew has mentored for five years.

Other winners included young volunteer of the year Ashli Flemming, from Mary’s Youth Club; older volunteer of the year Willie Donnelly, from ScotsCare (a City Road charity for Scottish people in London); and trustee of the year Sandra Davis, from the York Way Estate Community Centre.

Guljabeen Rahman, chief executive of Voluntary Action Islington, said: “We were proud to showcase the powerful impact volunteers have in their communities. As ever, we were incredibly moved by the stories behind the nominations.”