LIFE is turning out just purr-fect for teenager Alissa Plumb after she was named Young Volunteer of the Year for her devoted work at the cat sanctuary.

Alissa, 16, bagged the prestigious gong at a special ceremony to celebrate the contribution of Epping Forest's hard-working volunteers for National Volunteers Week.

The once shy teenager, who left school a year ago, is now off to college to pursue her ambition of working with the RSPCA after finding a dream career path at the Chestnut Cat Sanctuary in Thornwood Common, near North Weald.

She told the Gazette: “I've always grown up with cats and always been fond of them so I started here during my work experience and I loved it so much I came back.

“I was so happy when I got the award.

“Now I'm going to go to Writtle College in September to do an animal husbandry course so hopefully, one day, I can work with the RSPCA.”

Sanctuary manager Jackie De Friz paid tribute to Alissa's dramatic turnaround.

“When Alissa came to us she was struggling at school, not doing as well as the other pupils, and wasn't really sure where she was going in life,” she said.

“She was looking for something to give her life some meaning and working here she's found that – now she's got a dream career to follow and is off to college.”

She added: “When she came here she was incredibly shy but the difference in confidence now is huge.

“She works four or five days a week; she's the first here in the morning and is here right until we shut.

“She work's flat out all the time but she always got a big smile on her face.

“She's such a lovely girl and we're so happy for her.”

Alissa, from Epping, was one of 100 volunteers from groups across the district commended at a special event at Epping Hall but was one of only four winners.

Her dad Bernard added: “She did find it difficult at school but we're so proud of her.

“It's a wonderful achievement and we can't wait to see her working for the RSCPA in the future.”