THEY are there for young people in Hampshire 24/7.

Whether it’s a bad break-up, an argument with parents or an embarrassing health problem, the Hythe and Dibden Youth Trust (Handy) is available to lend advice.

So it’s no surprise local parents have nominated the team under the Daily Echo’s Community Star campaign.

It was set up in 1999 by local mother-of-two Candy Huxham, who had been volunteering at Hythe Youth Club when the parish council took her on as a youth worker.

Since then it has expanded to a five-person team covering Hythe, Dibden, Netley View and Marchwood, running sexual health clinics, a young parents group and school holiday play and craft sessions.

Candy, 52, said: “It’s all grown from the bottom up.

Everything we do is needed. We identify that need by speaking to the youngsters and thousands have benefitted.

We are lucky with our fundraising and it is such a great community effort.

“We are still here while other youth groups have fallen by the wayside and we are grateful to have the full support of the parish council and the Dibden Allotments Fund which pays half our wages.”

Candy also received national recognition for her leadership when she was named Youth Worker of the Year in 2011/12 by the National Youth Agency and Children and Young People Now.

And the trust is still motoring ahead with new plans, including building a new youth centre in Netley View.

The trust workers are Candy, Crystle Kinch, Hayley Young, David Cole and Leah Crouch.

They are based at The Grove in St John’s Street in Hythe.

The Community Star campaign, in associat i o n with Aster, will run until Friday, August 22, when Daily Echo editor-in-chief Ian Murray, Aster’s regional director Jean Dalziel and their customer board member John Cockaday will choose the winners.

First place will receive £500 and £250 to a charity of their choice, second place will be given £250 and £100 to charity, then six highly commended nominations will be given £100 and £50 to charity.

A community star can be any member of the public who goes above and beyond to serve their community.

If you know a Community Star in Southampton, Winchester, Fareham, Eastleigh or the New Forest, contact us at newsdesk@dailyecho.co.uk or ring 023 8042 4522