CONISTON Cold's Louise Henderson travels to Buckingham Palace this summer to receive her Duke of Edinburgh gold award.

Louise, of Stainton Coates, will receive the award at a palace garden party on July 17, attended by Prince Philip.

The aim of the Duke of Edinburgh awards is to encourage young people to try new challenges, learn more about themselves and to benefit the community. Prince Philip, the award's founder and patron refers to the scheme as a "do it yourself kit in the art of living".

Louise, currently studying at Nottingham University, worked with elderly residents living close to her school, regularly visiting an elderly widower. She also took part in a camp on the North York Moors hiking 50 miles and enjoyed a week's voluntary work with the National Trust at Fountains Abbey where she helped set up a Sixties festival.

She said: "I think the Duke of Edinburgh awards are a really good, structured way of bringing extra curricular activities into school. I visited a gentleman in York who didn't see anyone except for us and we would go around every week. I found that very rewarding and am still in touch with him."