A HARLOW entrepreneur has been recognised by the esteemed British Citizen Awards for his contribution to the community and his charity work.

Matthew Martino, 23 of Spinning Wheel Mead was handed a Certificate of Merit by the awards who are in their second year who honour select individuals who have made an impact in their communities or fields across the UK. Martino received the award over the weekend as a part of the Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations.

Martino who was in 2015 named Essex Young Person Of The Year said ‘It is an honour and very humbling to be awarded this certificate being recognised for my work at such a national level, such recognition is very encouraging and provides me with the confidence and motivation to keep going’.

Every day all of our lives are shaped by individuals doing great things – often behind the scenes, or away from the glare of publicity. People are the key to making our society and communities the special places that they are. The British Citizen Award aims to credit individuals from all walks of life who are making a lasting impact locally or nationally.

Martino has welcomed this award by announcing that he will endow a new fund to support young people in Harlow to be named ‘Harlow Youth Fund’. The fund due to launch in October 2016 will offer funding to young people living or working in Harlow who wish to launch a community project or develop a business. More information is available onwww.mmbf.co.uk/harlow-fund