A NORTH Yorkshire woman who set up an after school club in her spare time has been named volunteer of the year by her York employer.

Jackie Sedgwick, of Alne, was handed a £2,500 donation for Alne Primary School, after her work in setting up the Kool Club saw her beat a number of fellow employees at Nestl Rowntree in the city to win the award.

Set up in September last year, the club provides after school provision for up to 16 primary school children five nights a week, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.

The club is designed to help working parents, providing after school child care during term time.

Jackie, a founding member of the club's committee, has also been involved in helping to raise funds for the Kool Club to pay for all necessary equipment, creating a welcoming and stimulating environment for the children.

"I am delighted and surprised to be named as Nestl Volunteer of the Year," said Jackie.

"The generous donation from the Nestl Trust is very welcome, funding new equipment for the Kool Club, which in just six months has proved to be really popular for both kids and their parents." Katie Griffiths, senior corporate affairs officer at Nestl, said: "The standard of entries for this year's Nestl volunteer awards was very high.

"Jackie Sedgwick was chosen for her obvious hard work and dedication in helping to make the Alne after school club such a great success and I am sure it will continue to prove very popular for both working parents and for kids."

Alne Kool Club is now planning to open one hour before the start of school and to team up with the village playgroup to provide further childcare in school holidays.

The Nestl Volunteer of the Year Awards run every year and judging takes place in early spring. To qualify, all applicants must be a Nestl UK employee.

Applicants must submit a written report on the activities of their organisation and send photographs of the work they do for the community.

Updated: 09:24 Wednesday, April 07, 2004