An "exceptional young man" from Radlett "who has devoted a phenomenal amount of time and energy" raising funds for charity has come second in a county-wide award

Dubbed by organisers as the "Oscars for young people who give to others", Hertfordshire’s Young People of the Year rewards young people who give up their time for charity.

Yoni Stone, of Canons Close. Radlett, was nominated after leading others to raise £50,000 in two years.

Judges said that Yoni raised the money by leading three different organisations at his school, Haberdasher’s Aske’s in Elstree and received a £400 prize at a ceremony at Mansion House, Moor Park.

Yoni was nominated for the Smith-Milne Young People of the Year by the school chaplain. 

Rev Jan Goodair said: "Yoni is an exceptional young man who has devoted a phenomenal amount of time and energy to raising funds."

Justin Smith-Milne, principal of Smith-Milne and Co accountants, who are based in Rickmansworth, presented the prize and said: "Yoni’s leadership skills have encouraged others to make a real positive difference, touching the lives of many people both at home and abroad.

"But we were also struck by this finalist’s tremendous character and humility. He has not done this to seek attention for himself, but because he has been asked to lead and from his own privileged position, he has realised there is much need in the world and that he should step up to help."

The 18-year-old chaired the charity committee at the independent boys’ school and chaired the school’s Jewish Society and his school house’s charity group.

He helped the school raise £41,000 which will be used to set up three pre-schools in Tanzania and the school collected laptops that were adapted to teach "new and improved argricultural techniques to African farmers.

Calvert House, Yoni’s school house, also raised more than £7,500 for Harrow Multiple Sclerosis Centre after holding quizzes, fetes and cake sales.

The Oxford University student visited an orphanage and distributed food in Morocco just before he moved to university in September.

Mr Stone told the 200-strong-audience said: "At times, I found it hard to see the problems the children faced. It was a character-building trip and has motivated me to be more active in helping to alleviate poverty".

Nominations can be made for next year’s YOPEYs at: www.yopey.org.