TWO friends from Northwich are being held up as a national example for young people across the UK.

Emma Pritchard and Mia Tasker-Hall, both 13, have been chosen as two of just 50 #iwill ambassadors by the national charity Step Up To Serve.

Both members of 1st Rudheath Guides, they were nominated by Guide leader Rachael Aldus for their kind-hearted work for charity from an early age.

Jo Pritchard, Emma's mum, said: "They can't believe that out of all the people that were nominated they have actually been chosen.

"The ethos of the whole campaign is to change people's mind set and change it from early on.

"If as a child they see the need and see what they can do they will carry it on through their lives.

"They never did anything for any recognition, purely because they wanted to."

Emma's charity work was initially inspired by her brother Jamie, now 15, who was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was six and she was three.

In 2006 her dad Ian planned a fundraising challenge up Mount Kilimanjaro for Leukaemia Research, and Emma joined in with a walking challenge planned in support by her school Kingsmead Primary School.

In 2009 both Mia and Emma, then aged eight and seven, climbed Snowdon for Leukaemia Research.

A 10-year-old Mia was the youngest walker to take part in a Yorkshire Three Peaks walk in aid of Leukaemia Research in 2011, while Emma helped in a supporting role.

Since then the pair have helped with countless events through Guiding and at The Joshua Tree children's charity, Emma has run fundraisers for Blue Cross animal charity and Mia completed the Cheshire Hike to raise money for Parkinson's disease.

Mia also helps out at a Brownie pack and has the title Little Owl.

Emma said: "Everyone can do something – you won’t know how good it feels to know you have helped to make a difference until you have tried – there are lots of places in need of help in time, skills or money so choose one that means something to you, make contact and give it a go, whether you can do a bit or a lot, it will all be welcome and you will meet lots of people and do so many different things."

The #iwill campaign aims aims to encourage young people aged between 10 and 20 to make social action a part of their lives.