STUDENT Serena Cobb has been named cadet of the year for her region by St John Ambulance.

The 15-year-old Archway School pupil was presented with the trophy after a weekend away in Devon.

“It was such a privilege to even be selected for the weekend," Serena said.

“I made so many friends and would do it all again if I could.

“It is such an amazing organisation and all the cadets and youth leaders are the kindest and most friendly people I have met.”

Serena, who is from Westrip Lane in Stroud, was one of 30 cadets selected to go on an assessment weekend in the picturesque county after an application process.

The group were tested by five judges as they took part in interviews, in group discussions and performing first aid tasks.

Commenting on being presented with the accolade Serena said: “This award means so so much to me, it has shown me what I can achieve and how far I can push myself.

“I feel this is a reward for all my hard work.

“I aspire to be a paramedic or A&E doctor one day, it is my dream to help people in emergency situations - as cliché as that sounds.”

Stroud’s St John Ambulance cadet branch meet in the Meningitis Now building in Bath Road on Tuesdays at 6.30pm for an hour and a half.

“We do all sorts of fun things including first aid," said Serena, who started going to the sessions a year ago.

“However we do other subjects that give us great life skills, for example you can choose to go on leadership courses and work your way up the ranks, or just come and have fun.

“We do games and learn about different topics.

“The last couple of weeks we have been learning about the legal system which has been really fun.”

Visit sja.org.uk to find out more.