Sulekha Harrish, 14, London

I've always wanted to be more involved in my local community and Girlguiding welcomes all volunteers so I decided to help with my local Brownie group (the 3rd Southall Brownies).

Even though I've now completed enough volunteering hours to receive my Duke of Edinburgh Award, I've decided to stay on because I've enjoyed working with the Brownies so much.

The more I volunteer, the more my passion to help them grows. It's been a great learning experience as well as a lot of fun.

I have a close bond with the girls and they continue to surprise me every time I see them.

As leaders, we encourage the girls to engage in the community and I want to help my group grow in confidence and develop a better understanding of the world around them.

My group meets every week at a local housing association, which is a great way for us to be involved in the local area.

As a volunteer, I've benefitted too as I've had the chance to be part of something.

My self-confidence has grown and every week after our Brownie meeting, I feel I have accomplished something great.