AN ILKLEY Guide joined a group at an event in Parliament to celebrate achieving the movement's highest honour.

Naomi Warrenberg, 21, joined the celebration at the House of Commons on November 13, where she was given the Queen's Guide Award by Chief Guide, Gill Slocombe, and Guinness World Record-holder, Sally Kettle, who has twice rowed the Atlantic Ocean.

Naomi took three years to complete the tough Queen’s Guide Award, a personal collection of challenges that must be finished before the age of 26.

Action adventurer Sally Kettle gave a speech at the celebration about the amazing dedication of the Queen’s Guides. Fewer than 200 Girlguiding members complete the award every year.

Naomi, who volunteered with her local Rainbow group while completing her award, selected personal challenges in fields including volunteering, social action, developing new skills and travelling to a new place. Naomi’s personal challenges included volunteering on a residential holiday for horseriders who are disabled, helping to organise and run two Girlguiding camps for more than 1,000 people, a four-day expedition in the Yorkshire Dales and completing a Community Action project, where she volunteered in a local Oxfam shop and researched the charity.

Naomi said: “I am proud of completing the four-day walking expedition.

"I found it challenging, so it was all the more rewarding when I finished. I also liked volunteering on Guiding camps where I didn't know anyone – I enjoyed taking on new responsibilities and challenging myself by being out of my comfort zone.

"But my favourite part of the award was being able to learn how to knit. It was a fun skill to learn, has been a great creative outlet and it is really rewarding to wear the finished piece.”

Gill Slocombe said: “I’m proud of these inspirational young women, who have achieved the Queen’s Guide Award by setting themselves incredible challenges and taking positive action in their communities. They are our next inspiring female role models, who have proved they are a force for good.”

Visit girlguiding.org.uk for more information about Girlguiding.