A girl guide helped deliver a special message at the Conservative Party conference.

Niamh Griffin, 15, of Grange Park, sat alongside Maggie Throup MP and Sunday Times journalist Sian Griffiths as they discussed issues affecting girls and young women in the UK.

A member of First Grange Park Senior Section, Ms Griffin said: “It was great to see a broad group of people engaging in Girlguiding’s discussion on mental wellbeing and resilience, as it’s a topic that rarely gets spoken about in public forums.

“Attending the party conference was an amazing opportunity to speak out about the concerns of girls and young women in the UK.”

The 2015 Girls’ Attitudes Survey, Girlguiding’s annual report into the lives of girls and young women, found almost half of girls aged 17 to 21 (46 per cent) have personally needed help with their mental health.

Ms Griffin added: “I think it’s really important for young people to attend events like the Conservative Party Conference, and make our voices heard by decision makers.”

The report also found 62 per cent of girls aged 11 to 21 know a girl or young woman who has experienced a mental health problem.

As well as commenting on the survey, the 15-year-old was able to speak with Nicky Morgan, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities at the conference last week.