A 25-year-old from Shenley has been recognised with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts.
Victoria Selwyn is among recipients of the Diana Award which is awarded to people who go above and beyond in their daily life to create and sustain positive change.
The award was established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and supported by both her sons, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex.
In 2019, Victoria was elected President of ‘Headucate’ – a university student-led society, established in 2012 at the University of East Anglia, that promotes mental health awareness, tackles stigma and combats discrimination.
When the pandemic hit, Victoria led the team in developing innovative online interactive webinars, reaching more than 1,000 students throughout the academic year, as well as leading several outreach and fundraising projects and events, including 24-hour live stream shows about mental health, sponsored walks, fundraising galas, a mental health conference and Q&A sessions.
Her efforts raised more than £3,500 for 11 different mental health and wellbeing-related charities in 2020 alone.
Victoria said: "The Diana Award is special because it’s the only charity set up in memory of Princess Diana and her belief that young people can change the world.
"It’s such an honour to carry this prestigious award in memory of Princess Diana, I know it will inspire me to do even more in the mental health advocacy space as I graduate medical school and begin my job as a junior doctor this summer.
Tessy Ojo, chief executive of the Diana Award, added: "We congratulate all our new Diana Award recipients from the UK and around the globe who are changemakers for their generation.
"We know by receiving this honour they will inspire more young people to get involved in their communities and begin their own journey as active citizens.
"For over twenty years The Diana Award has valued and invested in young people encouraging them to continue to make positive change in their communities and lives of others."
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