FARNHAM Sixth Form College BTEC sport student Ben Hacker,attended an award ceremony at Farnham Rugby Club to receive an award for Young Volunteer of the Year from Farnham Sports Council.
Ben was Highly Commended in the Young Volunteer of the Year category as acknowledgement for the various contributions he has made to sport in the community.
Over the past year Ben has worked closely with The Abbey School and Surrey FA to organise a football tournament for students with disabilities and special educational needs.
He also organised a mini-Olympics style event for special needs schools in the area. In recent weeks, Ben has worked closely with Surrey FA to set up a Team19 Football Programme at the college, as well as an 11-a-side football team.
Ben has also taken part in the FA Football Futures Programme and is on the Surrey FA Youth Forum, where he attends national conferences to discuss issues such as women in football and how to increase participation.
Recognising his efforts inside and outside of the college, Ben was awarded the annual John Goddard Memorial Award at the college.
The John Goddard Award, created in memory of a former student of the college, is a financial bursary which enables students to undertake projects which otherwise may not have been possible.
Ben received £800 to fund his coaching badges and buy equipment for community coaching. Since receiving the award, Ben has gained his Level One Goalkeeper Coaching Award and the Level Two FA Youth Award Module, as well as completing the Coaching Disabled Footballers course.
He said: “It has given me a feeling of great achievement, that my voluntary work has been recognised by other people. It also reminds me of why I do voluntary work and the great feeling it bring.”