A TEENAGER who celebrated her birthday by volunteering has been honoured for helping her community.

Lucy McCorkindale has been volunteering with the after-school care programme at Yoker Resource Centre for three years and when lockdown hit, she started helping the G13/G14 Community Support Hub.

She turned 18 working there, which includes collecting bags of groceries from the FARE Scotland Hub at Knightswood Secondary for families identified by the head teacher. She also prepares emergency food parcels when requests are made and gets them out to families across north-west Glasgow.

Lucy also volunteers her Thursdays with Heart of Scotstoun getting meals to older and vulnerable services users of the centre.

The support hub helped her celebrate her 18th as a vital member of the team - and she has been recognised with the Saltire Award for 500 hours of volunteering.

Lord Provost Phil Braat, who presented Lucy with her award at a socially distanced outdoor ceremony, said: “Thank you to all the volunteers but especially Lucy McCorkindale, for all the work in the local community.

“It’s very pleasing to see young people taking a positive role in supporting their communities.

“Lucy is a shining example of what it means to be a volunteer. She has been extremely dedicated, not only during this pandemic but throughout her time of volunteering.

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“She is very deserving of this award and I wish to congratulate her on behalf of the city and everyone she has helped over the years.”

Sandy Busby, senior charity officer at Yoker Resource Centre, said: “It’s great to see generations underneath us taking a real interest in those most in need in our local community.

“Lucy has been an asset to the centre for over three years now, as has her mother, Claire, who is a local GP.

“She has learned and gained a lot from her experiences here and holds a commodity that I find scarce in today’s society, common sense and a can-do attitude.

“We are pleased to have hosted this and hope to do more in the future.”

Amanda Quinn, centre manager at Heart of Scotstoun, said: “Lucy always has a smile and a happy thought, she goes above and beyond for local people, she is a pleasure to have on the team.”

Local councillor Eva Murray said Lucy was an “absolute star”.

She added: “To see young people like Lucy step up during this pandemic to volunteer in their communities and help those who may be struggling has been totally inspiring.

“I have seen week in, week out the power of work Lucy has done - we really couldn’t be doing what we’re doing down at the hub without her. This is an amazing achievement and we’re all very proud of her.”