Year 10 West Hatch High School student Malachi Fontenelle has received a Jack Petchey Foundation award for his work within the school's Student Voice. 

Malachi, 16, from Loughton, worked tirelessly with the young adults at ELHAP adventure playground in Woodford Bridge.

Despite pouring rain, cold and howling winds Malachi spend a day outside leading a team of West Hatch students rebuild areas of the playground.

Malachi said: "I enjoyed being there and being part of it. It gives me a real buzz to help people to help themselves. 

"It was fun to test the giant swings and climb the tree houses afterwards."

Nicholas Bell, head of West Hatch Student Voice, said: "He was a credit to the school and truly deserves this recognition of his hard work."

Malachi received his award from Olympic athlete Mark Richardson who was a member of the 4 x 400m silver medal winning relay team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when with Iwan Thomas, Jamie Baulch and Roger Black the team set a UK record of 2mins 56.60 secs.​