A student who “used to fade into the background” has been chosen to represent Britain as a volunteering ambassador.

Avishka Attanayake, a year 10 student at Hendon School, in Golders Rise, is one of fifty UK wide Step Up to Serve ambassadors.

In November 2013, HRH the Prince of Wales and the UK's three party leaders launched Step Up To Serve and the #iwill campaign.

The campaignan’s collective goal is to double the number of ten to 20 year olds taking part in meaningful work such as volunteering, fundraising or campaigning by 2020. Over 80 organisations from across sectors are already working towards this goal.

Avishka describes herself as the kind of girl who used to “fade into the background” but when she got involved in volunteer projects she found new confidence.

With the support of her friends, she organised and led campaigns to adopt a village in Haiti, collect food for food banks, raise awareness for oppressed young people without voices and also worked on a bus campaign to create safer journeys for students in her area.