Kinsella is victims' ambassador

Former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, whose 16-year-old brother was knifed to death, is the new ambassador for a national charity for victims of crime.

Ben Kinsella had been to a north London bar with friends to celebrate the end of their GCSE exams in June 2008 when a row broke out and he was stabbed 11 times.

Miss Kinsella, who set up the Ben Kinsella Trust in her brother's memory, was revealed as an ambassador for Victim Support and backed a fundraising drive for the charity's Victim Supportline, which was contacted more than 23,500 times last year.

Miss Kinsella said: "I am proud to be Victim Support's ambassador. Supportline is helping more and more victims deal with the impact of crime. But as demand outstrips funding, there is a risk that desperate people may be left without support."

Miss Kinsella became a tireless anti-knife crime campaigner in the wake of her brother's death.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May asked her to report on the effectiveness of projects designed to keep young people away from violent crime.

Announcing her findings in 2011, Miss Kinsella said prisons needed to be tougher and called for primary schools to give children anti-knife crime workshops.

Victim Support chief executive Javed Khan said: "When Brooke and her family tragically lost her brother Ben in an unprovoked knife attack, we supported them, so I know how much value she places on the help that is given for victims.

"I look forward to working with her to ensure that all victims' needs are heard."