Zoe Allman from Beddington has shown she is leading the way after receiving Girlguiding UK’s top accolade, the coveted Queen’s Guide Award.

The award was presented to Zoe by Baroness Wilcox, Girlguiding UK’s Vice President, at a special ceremony held at the House of Lords in London on Tuesday (5 April).

Liz Burnley, the Chief Guide, Girlguiding UK was also on hand to offer her congratulations at the event.

Around 30 young women from right across the UK joined Zoe in receiving their Queen’s Guide.

The award sees participants take the lead in a number exciting areas including developing a personal skill, working within pioneering community action projects, and overseeing ambitious outdoor pursuits.

Zoe, whose Queen’s Guide achievements included getting involved in her Student’s Union and attending a Girlguiding UK workshop said: "Having completed my Queen’s Guide Award I am now more determined than ever to stay in Girlguiding and to offer girls and young women as many opportunities as possible that they perhaps would not get the chance to try if they were not part of this fantastic organisation.”

Baroness Wilcox said: "As a member of Girlguiding UK I know what a huge challenge these young women have risen to.

"The Queen’s Guide award requires a lot of dedication and hard work over the course of a year or more, I congratulate these young women on their achievement.

"They are the future of guiding and I sincerely hope they will take their enthusiasm for guiding with them and explore all that Girlguiding UK has to offer."

Liz Burnley added: “Over the years the Queen’s Guide Award has given many young women an amazing sense of empowerment and confidence within a girl-only-space, particularly at a time when they are making serious life choices – such as career direction – which ultimately shape their future.

“The presentation itself is a very special event, and something recipients will remember forever.”