A woman from a North-East village has been honoured for her devoted community work. Gavin Havery met Donna Bruce after she received her well-deserved award.

MANY parents would say Donna Bruce has enough on her plate coping with her own four children who suffer from health problems and special needs.

Kieran, 22, has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 13-year-old Connor has learning difficulties, Carley, nine, has chronic lung disease and Cody, eight, has cerebral palsy.

But the 39-year-old supermum has also found time to set up and run a youth club and community cafe in her village.

Mrs Bruce, who lives in Nettlesworth, near Chester-le-Street, with husband, Phil, was named County Durham Volunteer of the Year on Thursday.

She was presented with her award by Lord Lieutenant of County Durham Sue Snowdon during a prestigious ceremony at Ramside Hall Hotel, near Durham City.

The awards were organised by Durham Community Action and backed by several organisations in the region, including the Northern Echo.

Mrs Bruce said: “I did not expect to win anything but I do appreciate it.

“I am really chuffed and very excited to have won the award, but I could not have done it without the other volunteers.

“They are the backbone and they are a team. Every volunteer plays a special part.”

Mrs Bruce started Nettlesworth Youthie in Nettlesworth Community Centre in 2012 on Friday evenings, with sessions for primary school children and seniors.

And it was business as usual for the senior youth leader as she returned this evening (Friday, October 17) to show off her award to young members.

Her eldest son, Kieran, now lives in Perth, while Connor is a pupil at Durham Trinity School, Karley, attends Nettlesworth Primary School and Cody goes to Walworth Special School in Bishop Auckland.

The youngest three are also able to join their mum during sessions at the youth club.

Mrs Bruce said: “When people found out I was a qualified youth worker I was asked if I was going to set something up but I said I could not do it without other volunteers.

“It is all just went from there and we are going from strength.”

“My own kids benefit from it as well because they get to mix with mainstream kids. It is good for them.”

As well as the youth club, Mrs Bruce has helped bring a range of other services to the centre, such as a food bank and credit union, and last month helped launch a community cafe, which is open all day, Monday to Thursdays.

Mrs Bruce, who grew up in Scotland, but has lived in the North-East for 20 years, added: “It is tough managing everything, but if people just moan about things then nothing is going to change.”