Admirable voluntary work in the community seems even more heartening if it confounds expectations and stereotypes.

Too often young people can be tainted by assumptions they are up to no good or care little about the world around them.

But the Millennium Volunteers initiative, which is thriving across Sussex, proves the dangers of leaping to conclusions.

Caring youngsters such as Sean Cox are working tirelessly to help others, giving up hours of their own free time.

Wheelchair-bound Sean deserves his prize for being South-East Volunteer of the Year.

Meanwhile, there are heartening gleams of light in Whitehawk, an area often associated with youth crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Crew Club is one group bringing together young people determined to help not just their contemporaries but needy members of older generations.

They are learning that when they work hard with their local communities, they can soon witness real, deserved improvements, not least to their own reputations.