A TAVISTOCK College student has been named the winner of the Lions Club of Tavistock's Young Ambassador of the Year Award.

Ailish Piper, who is 18, was presented with her award by the president of the club, Alan Wroath and Lion Elaine Jones.

The Lions young ambassador was first organised in 1974 as the Lions youth award to acknowledge the work of young people working as volunteers and giving them the recognition they deserve, boosting their confidence and highlighting the charities and volunteer groups with which they are involved. There are awards at different levels — club, district, UK final, and eventually the European final.

Lion Alan Wroath said 'Ailish is a very worthy winner; she deserves the award not just because she spends a lot of her time working voluntarily, but also because she is a superb role model for the young people with which she works.'

Ailish gained the Baden Powell award when she was 14 and at 16 years of age, the Chief Guide Award — the highest awards achievable at that age. She has successfully completed the young leader qualification and, recently, the adult leader qualification.

She has supported younger girls in a vast range of activities including team obstacle courses, crafts, map reading skills and cooking, and has taken on leadership responsibilities. She supported division leaders through the centenary year and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, volunteering for over 216 hours and earning a Lions young leader in service award. She is now working as part of the leadership team at the weekly meetings of Bere Alston Rainbows for five to seven year olds.

Ailish was a runner up in the district final of the young ambassador award, where the winner received £500 for a charity project of their choice. Lion Alan Wroath said that she gave a superb presentation, but was up against strong opposition.

He said: 'This competition shows what wonderful things young people do, which otherwise might go unnoticed.'