WHEN it comes to unsung heroes, there can be few who do as much for their community as Ben Carty.

The newly-crowned York Community Pride Person of the Year epitomises everything that's great about our city.

Although only 21-years-old, Ben clocks up a staggering 44-and-a-half hours of voluntary work every week, working with young people throughout York.

Ben, of Garbutt Grove in Acomb, works in schools and youth clubs with Hope Church's Global project, tackling issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, violence and youth crime.

Through Global, he has also done lots of community action work, helping disadvantaged families with gardening, decorating and childcare.

On top of that, he gives up his evenings to help run youth clubs in Poppleton, Acomb Green and Tadcaster; and gives up his lunch breaks to run lunch clubs in secondary schools four times a week.

He also works as a mentor for eight young people in York, empowering them to become leaders in their communities; and participates in detached youth projects, befriending young people in the city's streets and providing free tea and coffee.

As if that were not enough, Ben also coordinates large youth events; organised a residential weekend for more than 100 people; and spent his summer holidays working with children and teenagers in Haxby, Foxwood, Bell Farm and Acomb.

His dedication is truly remarkable and he is a worthy winner of this year's York Community Pride Person of the Year award.

Receiving the award, Ben said: "This is such an honour, but I am just one of 30 or 40 volunteers at Global."

He said: "It's just an absolute honour just to be here and to be around so many people who have done such great things."