AN IPSWICH youth worker who inspired truants to go back to school has been honoured by the Prince of Wales.Film stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey were among those gathered at The Prince's Trust and RBS Celebrate Success awards ceremony in London, which recognised the outstanding achievements of disadvantaged young people across the UK.

AN IPSWICH youth worker who inspired truants to go back to school has been honoured by the Prince of Wales.

Film stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey were among those gathered at The Prince's Trust and RBS Celebrate Success awards ceremony in London, which recognised the outstanding achievements of disadvantaged young people across the UK.

Despite narrowly missing the chance to take home the Leadership award, Mal Ahklak, Holywells High School's flexible curriculum co-ordinator, received a royal accolade from Prince Charles.

Mr Ahklak has tutored pupils on The Prince's Trust xl programme, who face educational difficulties and social problems, to help turn their lives around, which included setting up a community pilot scheme with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service to give youngsters of taste of life within the service.

In December Nassir Uddin, a 17-year-old student at Holywells, was named East of England educational achiever of the year and Mr Ahklak won the Blythe Valley Leadership award at the event in Peterborough.

Mr Ahklak said: “I came to England from Bangladesh when I was 10-years-old. I didn't speak any English and it made me want to help young people who might not be able to read or write that well.”

Do you know someone receiving a special award? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.