A MENTAL health campaigner who won a competition to go to space and meet royalty in the same year feels like he’s been given a ticket to “Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory”.

Hussain Manawer, of Ilford, was shocked when the letter stamped by Buckingham Palace fell through his letterbox last week, inviting him to Clarence House with Prince Charles.

But not as shocked as he was when he found out he’ll be heading to space in 2018 after winning the One Young World Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2015.

Speaking about his the vigorous training he’s planning ahead of his space win, the 24-year-old said: “I never thought I’d win the competition. I’ve channelled my mind to stop thinking about going to space because if I don’t, I won’t sleep.

“I get too excited, I’m like a kid the night before they go to a theme park.”

He will travel 62 miles above sea level out of the Earth’s atmosphere in the XCOR Lynx spacecraft.

On being invited to Buckingham Palace, he said: “I was shocked at first, it was a big letter and I thought, this isn’t a tax bill. This doesn’t happen every day.”

His grandparents moved to Ilford 60 years ago and he says he has been able to grow “because of them”.

He added: “I’m proud their hard work hasn’t been in vain – I’m meeting royalty now.

“I love Ilford. I’m lucky and get to travel now but where I grew up inspired my personality.

“There are great opportunities for young people like me in Ilford, you just need to keep working hard at what you do.”

The former Valentines School pupil has become an internet sensation for his motivational poetry and speeches raising awareness about mental health.

His work has been endorsed by the likes of Gary Linaker and Piers Morgan and he is passionate about teaching mental health in schools.

In March, he will attempt to set a world record for the largest mental health lesson at Hackney Empire in London.

His own writing began as a school pupil in Year 9, and he wants to use his profile to raise awareness about social issues.

He added: “The last few years have been crazy but the most monumental thing for me remains the success of my poetry. It’s the thing I’m most proud of.”