TOBY Jones has to deal with disabilities that are limiting to his movements every day.

But he refuses to let them prevent him becoming an exemplary student and mentor to youngsters struggling with their own problems.

Toby, aged 19, is a pupil at Cirencester College, where one of the subjects he studies is mathematics.

His disability means he is not able to hold his own ruler or compass, so he has worked meticulously with a personal assistant and used a detailed sequence of instructions to get him through his GCSE Maths examination.

Despite the demands of his own college work, he still finds time to volunteer at the Battledown Centre for Children and Families in Cheltenham whenever his timetable allows and when they need him.

During his six weeks summer holiday from College Toby is helping with the Play Scheme both with the admin and with the children under supervision, support and guidance from the team.

He used to attend the centre himself, but now helps out in lessons and gives encouragement to the children there.

Sara Popp, of Cirencester College, has nominated Toby in the Spirit of Youth section of our Pride of the Cotswolds Awards 2018.

She said: "Toby is determined to be successful in his studies at Cirencester College, but has a mass of his own obstacles physically to regularly overcome.

"This in no way stops him giving time, support and understanding to the needs of others.

"Toby is also a student ambassador for us here at Cirencester College, and in this role he represents the college at events, and promotes the services we offer to prospective students."

Toby's efforts have already received recognition. He was recently honoured at the St George's Day service at Gloucester Cathedral with the Nairac Youth Award, given annually by the Royal Society of St George to the region's unsung heroes.

The Pride of the Cotswolds Awards aim to honour those whose contribution to their employer, charity or community makes them truly exceptional.

In doing so we will celebrate the Cotswolds too: this amazing, beautiful part of the world filled with such outstanding individuals and organisations.

Our awards have an array of categories designed to recognise a wide range of achievement and contribution.

They include the Spirit of Youth award, sponsored by Gloucestershire’s innovative engineering and scientific technology company Renishaw; Volunteer of the Year, Sporting Hero award, and more.

We welcome nominations from anyone, and for any individual or organisation based within the Cotswolds area served by the Stroud News and Journal, the Gloucestershire Gazette series and the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard.

The awards will be presented on September 20 at a big, glitzy gala evening at the New Lawn stadium, the Nailsworth home of Forest Green Rovers Football Club, which is renowned not only for its soccer, but for the superb quality of its vegan cuisine!

Our independent judging panel will sift through your nominations and shortlist those with the qualities they feel best match the award category criteria. They will make their decision based on the content of the nomination rather than the number of nominations received.

Please join us in applauding those who help make the Cotswolds great. Visit www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/awards/prideofcotwolds