A JERSEY student has beat off stiff competition to be named Britain’s Lions Club Young Ambassador of the Year.
Hannah Johnson (17), Jersey’s Lions Club Young Ambassador, was recognised for her commitment to local charities and will now compete in the European finals in September.
She will also act as an Ambassador for Britain, attending conventions and events during her one year reign.
And she now plans to use the £2,000 she has won throughout the various stages of the competition to fund a sensory room for autistic children through Autism Jersey.
Hannah took part in the competition in Dudley last weekend after triumphing in the local round of the competition in Jersey and the south of England district final in Bournemouth in January.
She will now travel to Finland in September to represent the UK at the European finals of the competition – which recognises young people who have made a major contribution to their local community.
As well as studying for AS levels at Jersey College for Girls, Miss Johnson regularly helps charities like Cancer Bacup, Headway and Victims of Crime, and she is a befriender of a young boy for Autism Jersey.
At last weekend’s competition Miss Johnson had to be interviewed by the judges about her work, give a presentation to over 100 people, and had to think on her feet in a question and answer round.
But, she said, she still had no idea how well she had done until the judges announced their decision.
‘I am still in shock,’ she said. ‘Everyone was so amazing and when I gave my presentation I decided not to have anything in front of me and just went along with it.’
That tactic clearly paid off as Hannah is now the proud owner of a very grand trophy and will have an extra £1,500 to add to a charitable project of her choice.
‘I am hoping to use the money I have won throughout the competition on Autism Jersey for a sensory room, but it is still just an idea at this stage,’ she said.
Pictured: Hannah Johnson with the trophy she won in a competition to become Lions Club Youg Ambassador of the British Isles
