A mother has received an award from the prime minister for helping children in developing countries.

Shelley Schachter-Cahm, 47, collects toys, books and baby equipment for Toy Drop, a charity she founded 12 years ago.

At Hanukkah, Toy Drop works in partnership with United Synagogues to collect donations from the Jewish community and deliver them to the Phillipines, Malaysia and Singapore.

Ms Cahm was given a Point of Light Award in recognition of outstanding volunteer work at David Cameron’s Hanukkah reception in Downing Street.

Mr Cameron said the Toy Drop was a “fantastic initiative” and “typical of the remarkable generosity of the Jewish community”.

Ms Cahm, a lawyer and mum of two, said the inspiration for Toy Drop hit after a six-week trip to Manila, in the Phillipines, where she donated her daughter’s toys to an orphanage.

On receiving the award, she said: “It’s very humbling for me and I really hope it is inspiring to others to realise how easy it can be just to get up and do something to help others.

“It doesn’t matter if you only start out helping a single person; you may end up reaching tens of thousands.

“You don’t have to be rich, you don’t have to dedicate your entire life to volunteering; but choosing to do something rather than doing nothing is how the Toy Drop happened and everyone is equipped to do something.”