A TEENAGER who volunteers for St John Ambulance and raises money for charity has been named the 'Most Outstanding Individual'.

Joshua Holden, 15, volunteers for the first aid charity in Accrington and was presented with the the award from the Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots group.

The organisation aims to encourage young people nationwide to take part in projects to help the environment and those in need.

As well as volunteering, Joshua also helped to organise a ‘Homeless Sleep-out’ that raised more than £2,000 for Nightsafe, Maundy Relief and the Salvation Army.

The St Christopher’s CE High School pupil was nominated for the award by biology teacher Wendy Litherland for his ‘dedication to people, the environment and animals'.

Joshua received the award at a ceremony at the Barbican Centre in London and said he was delighted.

He said: “I’m thrilled and honoured to have won the award. I really enjoy helping people and taking care of the environment.

“First aid is a skill for life and it’s a great feeling knowing that, if needed, I’d be able to help someone at a time they really needed help.”

He has been volunteering with St John Ambulance for around a year and has recently taken part in a cadet trainee first aider course.

Carolyn Ridge, Accrington unit manager, said Joshua is a ‘fine example’ to all young people.

She said: “We are incredibly proud of Joshua, he’s an asset to his community.

“We believe that all young people should have the opportunity to make a real difference in their community, to speak out on what matters to them and to help others in need of support and development and Joshua is a fine example of this.”

As a reward for winning the prize, Joshua will now be invited to join volunteers from the Quest Overseas team to carry out a six-week summer project in South America or Africa.

The group has been organising team adventures to the continents for more than 20 years.

Options include the chance to work with rescuing wild animals in the Bolivian Amazon or helping to build homes in Villa Maria, Peru.