Matt Ayrton, 21, is Suffolk's youth worker of the year and was nominated by Suffolk Clubs for Young People.

He said he spent a "fantastic day" at the palace. "I got to see most of the royal family, including the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, though I didn't manage to speak to any of them."

Since leaving Colchester Institute with a BTec in Sports, Matt, of Browns Close, Acton, has done voluntary and paid work with youth clubs in Acton and Monks Eleigh and has just finished a year with the Christian-run Eden's Project.

Whilst there he worked at Hillside Special School and helped at other youth clubs in the area. He is also a qualified Football Association coach with Suffolk FA and coaches a girls' side at Acton.

Operations manager at Eden's, Neil Holmes said: "Well done to Matt for what he has done. He was one of six gap-year students who joined us this year and Eden's was a big opportunity for him to develop his skills.

"He has worked very hard and being invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party was very nice for him."

Matt is now looking for a job using the skills he has learnt to work with young people. His parents Tim and Joy run No 72, a drop-in family and community centre in North Street, Sudbury.