Tamworth Community Volunteer of the Year Awards: Nominations close Thursday, Jayden Grainger up for award

Ask Jayden Grainger, it's not everyday a 17-year-old is invited to the Golden Guitar Awards.

A perk of his volunteer work at Tamworth Country Music Festival, he's now the youngest nominee for Tamworth Regional Council's Community Volunteer of the Year Awards.

With nominations closing on Thursday, members of the public are encouraged to nominate someone who has donated their time to help out.

Jayden was part of a team of festival ambassadors, a welcome face for visitors to the city for the biggest festival in Australia.

"The opportunity was there so I took it, and it was awesome," he said.

"The training was really good, whatever ability level you were, no matter if you were my age or 70 anyone could do it.

"Talking to people I was a little bit worried and scared about what they were going to say."

Together with the help of his support worker Matilda Schumack, the pair wandered Peel Street helping festival-goers have the best experience.

"The first shift was at the council building and both of us were a bit nervous and scared, but by the end of the shift Jayden was talking to everyone and it was amazing to watch how he interacted," Ms Schumack said.

"It was amazing for him to step out of his comfort zone and have those people around him, the support you get as a volunteer makes you very comfortable."

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After upping his confidence, Jayden even scored some casual work at cafe Jamaica Blue.

"I'm proud and excited to have been nominated, I've talked to a couple of other people about volunteering and they are thinking about it," he said.

Award nominations close on Thursday, to nominate a volunteer visit Tamworth Regional Council's website.

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