NOT content with just one voluntary project, Penny Garlick devotes her time to three worthwhile causes while overcoming her own disability.

The 18-year-old spends nearly every free moment helping different charities and voluntary groups as well as holding down a job, but far from being exhausted Penny says she thrives on the challenges.

She said: "I really enjoy the voluntary work I do. I like the idea that people are being helped out by what I, and others like me, do."

Although Penny suffers from dyspraxia, a learning disability that also affects her co-ordination, she hasn't let that stand in her way.

She said: "It is frustrating sometimes when I can't do things as well as everybody else but my volunteering work shows me that there are a lot of people who are worse off than I am and that is why I do it.

"My problems aren't all that bad when I see what other people have to cope with."

Penny is another Millennium Volunteer from Hampshire who has been nominated to compete for the regional title of Volunteer of the Year.

Like the other candidates, featured weekly by the Daily Echo, Penny took up the government-backed scheme when she realised how many worthwhile causes need volunteers to keep them afloat.

She said: "The scheme is a brilliant idea and for young people it looks so good on CVs that you have given up your free time to help others and improve your own skills at the same time."

Penny's voluntary work includes being a leader at Bishopstoke Rainbows in Eastleigh and helping with play-schemes during the summer holidays.

Penny, of Church Road, Eastleigh, also helps out with a weekly stint at a Southampton food charity.

Crisis Fareshare distributes food from supermarkets that is past its sell-by date but is still edible to homeless charities around the city.

Every week Penny, along with 40 other volunteers, gives her time to the charity that is run purely on grants and donations.

A co-ordinator at the Crisis Fareshare centre at Millbrook, Brian Hixon, said: "Penny is a great worker. She is very reliable member of staff who really believes in what she is doing.

"She throws herself into the work and is 100 per cent committed."

Food distributed by Fareshare helps towards 2,000 meals a week - a reason volunteering is so essential to the project, according to Penny.

She said: "There needs to be more volunteers and I would encourage anyone to get involved with projects like this one.

"With Millennium Volunteers you can do as much volunteering as you like and whenever you like so it really suits young people who have a busy life as well."