Lee Warren was last night announced as British Universities & College Sports' (BUCS) Endsleigh Insurance Student Volunteer of the Year.

The award recognised the 22-year-old's work introducing the FA Mars Just Play! scheme, as well as the BUCS Team Twenty Three programme, where he has initiated Futsal sessions, at the University.

After collecting his award from John Inverdale, the BUCS President and sports television broadcaster of 30 years, at the BUCS Awards at Swansea University last night (Thursday), Lee said he was "delighted".

He added: "I'm very happy; it's something I certainly didn't expect, especially when I saw the quality of the other nominees. Even now it hasn't quite sunk in yet, it's an incredible acknowledgment for the three years or so that I've been at uni."

Attendances were low when Lee first introduced the Mars Just Play! and the Team Twenty Three programmes.

However, now – with the help of fellow Bedfordshire student Sam Page – Lee delivers men's and women's kick-about sessions at the University's Alexander Sports Centre in Bedford for many students and staff weekly.

The Sport and Exercise Science Master's student has also seen Futsal develop beyond all expectations at Bedfordshire.

And since January a Friday Night Futsal League has been setup by Lee for students and staff, which has also led to the introduction of a Bedfordshire team into the 2014/15 BUCS Futsal League.

Overall, Lee has helped to encourage:

• 300+ different participants at Football/Futsal Activities
• 30+ students/staff on average attended Mars Just Play/Get into Football weekly
• 25-30 students on average attending Get into Futsal, before Futsal League, weekly
• 57 engaged with Futsal League weekly

The Needham Market, Suffolk, resident added: "When I went up on to the stage to collect my award John Inverdale asked about what kept me carrying it on when numbers were low. And really I don't know, I just persisted with it. And now I have the recognition for it, so it just goes to show you that persistence pays off."