A GIRL guides volunteer has been handed an award after completing 29 years of dedicated service.

Helen Stannett, of the 1st Jaywick Girl Guides, joined the branch as a girl and has been involved with them ever since.

She has been handed a Jack Petchey Leader Award, which recognises adults who have demonstrated an ability to motivate young people.

Helen’s award was given in recognition of three decades of outstanding service to Jaywick’s Rainbows, Brownies and Guides.

She started her girl guiding journey at the age of seven and undertook her leader training in 1993.

In 2009, she reopened the 1st Jaywick Rainbows, which had closed due to the leaders moving to other units, and she is now the leader in charge at all three units.

When Helen got married, Jaywick Brownies and Guides acted as guards of honour.

Helen, 45, said: “The opportunities and experiences I had through Guiding make me want to give something back.

“Thanks to guiding I have made friends from all over the country and even further afield.

“I would like every girl to have the same and more opportunities than I had, giving each individual girl the chance to flourish and achieve whatever their ability or background.

“I was surprised to receive the award and very humbled, I certainly don’t volunteer to receive awards.

“I don’t think I do anything more than any other leader, and definitely couldn’t do it without the support and help of my leadership team within all three units and the support of my family.”

The past couple of years have not been easy for 1st Jaywick, as they have had difficulty in recruiting girls and retaining leaders.

Helen, a mum-of-four, added: “At times it has been a struggle, when you go from a healthy sized unit to a unit with below the recommended number of girls.

“But we’ve kept it open, even with just two girls so that future girls still have a unit to go to.

“My life would be a lot emptier without 1st Jaywick and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without guiding.”

The award also gives the branch the opportunity to apply for a £750 grant from the Jack Petchey Foundation, which has provided more than £100,000 of funding to girl guiding units in north east Essex since 2010.

Katie Purcell, grants officer for uniformed groups at the Jack Petchey Foundation said: “Inspirational leaders are so important to organisations such as girl guiding.

“Helen provides young people in Jaywick with opportunities to develop life skills, meet new friends and prepare themselves for their futures and I know that the young people she has worked with are so grateful for all she does.”