MODEL and actress Lily Cole addressed hundreds of Scottish students on her bid to rebuild community spirit and instil a culture of giving in the modern world.

Cole, 24, is preparing to launch her social network Impossible which will allow users to meet each other and share skills with those who could benefit from them.

Impossible, she says, is a utopian construct but one which is possible to achieve.

Cole was invited to share her "passion project" with students at Glasgow Caledonian University during freshers' week.

She said she was attracted to the university for its social values and described its chancellor, Nobel Peace Prize winner and global anti-poverty campaigner Professor Muhammad Yunus, whom she met at the Davos World Economic Forum last year, as a true inspiration.

Cole herself was awarded an honorary doctorate from the university for her contribution to humanitarian and environmental causes earlier this year.

While no longer on the catwalk and more interested in art and film projects, Cole believes that her public profile can allow her to influence change for good.

Cole said: "Impossible has been my passion project for around two years. It is about building a giving and receiving culture.

"You can make a wish for help, such as learning a language and people can offer their skills in return. I asked for a blanket once and I gave away stuff when I was moving out of my house.

"The only premise of the space is that it is done for the love of it. It's not done for money."

What skill would Cole offer up on Impossible? "Well I have been attempting to finish yoga teacher training so I can offer some advice on that level."

She added: "Impossible is about the spirit of community. Money of course is a very helpful medium but I feel it has become such a dominant part of our culture. It has become the only reason someone will do anything."

Impossible, which includes Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and economist Hazel Henderson among its advisers, is in its final development stage with students at Glasgow Caledonian University to help test the site, which is due to launch soon.

Cole's other projects include North Circular, which commissions skilled hand knitters to produce garments, plus a jewellery range which aims to help save one billion trees in the Amazon rainforest by using sustainable rubber.

While the face of choice for fashion houses such as Chanel and Lacroix, Cole graduated in 2011 with a double first in history of art from King's College, Cambridge.

Cole, who this week performed a dance at London Fashion Week highlighting the impact of climate change, said: "Working with fashion over the years I felt that it was more important to look at the businesses that I was working and the businesses I could create myself.

"I never try to look too far in advance and life always continues to surprise me. If you had asked me five years ago I would never have thought I would be doing a social network. Impossible is my baby, I feel like I gave birth to it. Now I have to help it grow."

To register your interest in Impossible go to www.impossible.com.