A VETERAN volunteer who has dedicated more than 30 years to helping others will receive a special award this week.

Great-grandmother Amy Jones, 99, will be given a certificate in recognition of her selfless work, at a ceremony organised by the Barnet Voluntary Service Council on Thursday.

Mrs Jones, who has a daughter, two grandchildren, and three great-granchildren, has spent more than three decades working unpaid for projects across the borough, and still regularly organises the tea, twice a week, at the Chipping Barnet Day Centre in Wood Street.

The stalwart of the borough's voluntary sector seemed bashful at the news she was going to be centre stage at Thursday's ceremony.

She said: “I don't like all the publicity.

“One doesn't do voluntary work to get the recognition for it.”

Mrs Jones, who still lives independently in her own home in Barnet, said she took up volunteering when her husband retired in the 1970s.

“I have had a good life, a good husband and good health, so I thought I should give something back sometimes,” she said.

“A lot of the people who come to the day centre are housebound and if there weren't people running it they wouldn't be able to come along and wouldn't see anybody at all during the week.

“It is a very nice environment at the centre, they all thoroughly enjoy it and I like to play scrabble with some of the old dears.”

And the committed carer puts her continued volunteering down to simple lifestyle choices.

“I don't smoke, I don't drink and I only eat plain foods,” she said.

“I have been lucky and was born with good health. I have only had one illness in my life and I will carry on with volunteering as long as I can.”

Brigid Horgan, manager at the day centre, said: “Amy makes the best cuppa in Barnet. She is blessed with good health, but never takes it for granted and is always willing to help others who are not.

“She is an amazing lady, who serves as a great role model for volunteers in general and for people of her generation and younger.”

More than 160 other people will receive certificates at Thursday's event, having committed more than 100 hours of service to voluntary groups in the borough.

Misha Bhatt-Shibu, coordinator of the bi-annual Barnet community volunteer awards, said: “The awards recognise the important contribution made by all volunteers in Barnet.

“It is our way of saying 'thank you' to all the volunteers for their time, effort, commitment and for the difference they make.”