A TEENAGER who overcame depression to help others with the illness, and a schoolgirl who raised �1,500 for charity, have been nominated for the Young People of the Year Awards.

Huntingdonshire youngsters Matthew Clifton and Helen Foster will find out if they have been successful at the awards ceremony due to be held at Ely Cathedral next Wednesday.

Matthew, of Pyms Gardens, Abbotsley, once considered suicide after bullies made his life a misery.

But the 19-year-old is now an inspiration to others after designing a website, writing a book and running workshops for fellow youngsters who have suffered like him.

Helen, of Highfield Avenue, Alconbury Weston, used her own initiative to raise money for charity.

She made her first foray into fundraising aged just 13, donating �250 to Comic Relief by organising a cake stall in her village.

Following that she hired the nearby village hall to raise money for Cancer Research and asked EastEnders actor Himesh Patel, who plays character Tamwar Masood, to open the event.

“I nominated Helen because she is very unassuming and modest,” said her form tutor Kate Sharp, from Sawtry Community College.

“She is a very quiet member of my form but she had used her initiative to help others and worked incredibly hard.”