A well known film actress helped launch a charity to raise awareness about forced marriage, honour killings and female genital mutilation.

Educate 2 Eradicate was founded by Arifa Nasim, 19, to educate people about honour abuse.

Ella Purnell, 19, star of Never Let Me Go, Maleficent and The Legend of Tarzan, is events manager for the charity and helped organise the launch.

The pair attended Forest School in Walthamstow together.

Ella approached Arifa after she gave a talk about the charity in school and offered to get involved.

Ella said: "I've always felt strongly about defending the defenceless.

"It is shocking the amount of times that I have had to define FGM and forced marriage to people because they just don't know.

"E2E is a genuine grassroots organisation that works in schools and I want to be a part of that grassoots change."

Arifa said: “As a young actress she does have a platform to reach people.

“She was very keen to get involved.

“She is indispensable. She plays such a huge role in connecting us to people.

“She tweets about us and lets young people know we exist.”

The launch dinner was held on Thursday, July 14, the national day of remembrance for victims of honour abuse.

Arifa, hosted the dinner at Frederick Bremer Secondary School in Walthamstow, which featured in reality TV show Educating the East End, in 2014.

Arifa said reaching out to schools is key to educating the next generation.

She said: “I think the evening was a tremendous success.

“We had representatives from 12 different schools, which is the most vital part of Educate 2 Eradicate.

“We believe that change happens in schools.”

Arifa, from Walthamstow, gives talks in schools in an effort to educate teachers about the signs to watch out for if students are at risk of abuse, FGM or forced marriage.