A GUIDE leader from Bury has received the movement's highest award after almost three years of dedication.

A group of Girlguiding game-changers celebrated achieving the prestigious award on April 13 with a trip to Parliament

Among them was Holly Smith, aged 26, who joined the celebration at the House of Commons where she was presented with the award by Chief Guide Gill Slocombe and No More Page 3 campaigner Lucy-Anne Holmes.

Ms Holmes also gave a speech about the amazing dedication of the trailblazing Queen’s Guides.

Holly, a former leader at the 12th Radcliffe Guides, took nearly three years to complete the Queen’s Guide Award, a series of tough challenges which must be completed before the age of 26.

Holly, who works as a retirement support consultant for Liverpool Victoria insurance, selected personal challenges in fields including volunteering, social action, developing new skills and travelling to a new place.

It included fundraising with her group for Bury Hospice and carrying out a research project about the charity’s work.

The Queen’s Guide Award is the highest award achievable in Girlguiding, helping young women get skills for life and work.

Holly said: “I am most proud of the cancer research project I carried out at my local hospice.

“This meant a lot to me because I lost my mum to cancer at only 17 and I recently lost a mentor to me in guiding to cancer.

"I know she would be proud of me for powering on through.”

Holly is currently working to set up a new senior section group in her area, for girls in guiding aged 14 to 25.