For some people there is just not enough hours in the day and this is certainly true for one young lady who has been nominated for a Young Citizens Award.

How Nikita Thanki fits as much as she does into 24 hours defies belief.

Not only did she achieve the highest AS results at her school, she finds time to volunteer every week at a care home with Alzheimer patients and helps out at a special needs school.

The sixth former at Valentines High School, Cranbrook Road, Ilford also donates her time to a Barnardos charity shop, mentors younger pupils at her school and fundraises for charity.

“I try my best – I like doing stuff and getting out in the community and talking and interacting with people I don’t usually get to,” she said.

Nikita, 18, supports cancer and mental health charities due to conditions suffered by people she has known.

“It is not something that can be avoided,” she said. “Raising money will try and better the chances that they can recover.

“If I’m fortunate to have all my health, why not help others?”

The teenager, who is one of four children, is studying biology, chemistry and maths and hopes to become a dentist one day.

She has applied to King’s College London and is waiting to see if she has been successful and is happy about her nomination.

“I am really grateful,” she said. “I am sure there’s a lot of people that do amazing things as well.

“But I am glad to be recognised as one of them, I’m just going to do what I do.”

Form tutor Lisa Shelley said: “I think Nikita is fantastic. She is an inspiration to everybody and balances time between helping others and working very hard.”

To nominate someone for a Recorder/Redbridge Rotary Club Young Citizen Award, email ann-marie.abbasah@archant.co.uk with their name, contact details and reasons for nominating.