Two sisters from Truro have been praised by Rotary International for their tireless work setting up and running a mental health charity.

Amber and Sophia Cowburn, aged 23 and 24, set up the mental health charity The Invictus Trust in 2011, a year after their 18-year-old brother committed suicide while in a psychiatric unit.

The sisters felt the care available to Ben at the time did not support him properly, so they made it their mission to ensure young people receive better support when battling mental health issues.

Now, they have been chosen to receive the Young Citizen Award, provided by Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland.

Amber and Sophia set up the charity in 2011, together with their older sister Laura, father Steve and mother Sharon.

They named it the Invictus Trust because Ben had the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley tattooed on his arm.

After setting up the trust to raise awareness, they were astounded to learn there were no facilities for under 18s in Cornwall.

The Invictus Trust has agreed on a business plan with the board of the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to build a £5 million, 14-bed unit in Cornwall, and also campaign on behalf of desperate families to bring their children home.

The judges of the Young Citizen award chose seven overall winners, including Amber and Sophia, from over 50 entries from across Great Britain and Ireland.

They will now join the other Young Citizen Award winners to receive their awards on stage at the rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland Conference in Manchester on April 8, presented by Ellie Crisell.

As well as receiving their trophy at the ceremony, Amber and Sophia will also receive £500 towards a cause of their choice.

Amber said: "Sophia and I are so delighted and surprised to win this award.

"Our family have worked tirelessly since our brother Ben passed away in 2010, setting up The Invictus Trust to raise awareness of mental health issues and to improve services in Cornwall.

"We are continually in awe of our parents' strength.

"This award means so much to us, particularly from such a well-respected international institution as Rotary.

"We will continue to work hard raising awareness of teenage mental health issues and encouraging young people to seek help early, in Ben's honour.”

Now celebrating their tenth anniversary, the Rotary Young Citizen Awards were created to recognise people under the age of 25 who have demonstrated their commitment to citizenship through various activities.

Eve Conway, president of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, said: “The achievements of these young people are outstanding and serve as an inspiration to us all.

"Sophie and Amber had to cope with losing their brother, but in the midst of their grief they were determined to ensure others did not find themselves in the same situation, which is an incredible act.

“Rotary is proud to be able to hold these awards, which highlight how many positive young role models we have in society.

"The accomplishments of the nominees each year continues to astound us and makes the job of judging the entries very hard.”