A FORMER Chipping Sodbury School pupil has been awarded the prestigious Diana Award for her work with young people.

Eighteen-year-old Jade Southron was given a lifetime honour for her commitment and invaluable work with the youth service.

Over the last three years, Jade has worked with a variety of groups including South Gloucestershire Youth Forum and Youth Board, the Cyber Crew, Ready Steady Change Young Trainers and the Youth Opportunities Fund, known locally as The Big Stash.

Jade is hoping to study youth work when she goes to university in September.

She was given the surprise award, which was set up in memory of the Princess of Wales, during an anti-bullying conference at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall last Wednesday.

Cllr Sheila Cook, executive member for children and young people, said: "Staff and councillors at South Gloucestershire Council are extremely proud of Jade’s achievement and the value she brings to our young people is immense.

"The Diana Award is a unique achievement given to young people for their compassion and the selfless contributions they make to their communities.

"These exceptional young people provide important positive role models by challenging existing stereotypes of our youngsters."

Maggie Turner, chief executive of the Diana Award, said: "This highly prestigious award gives young people, of all abilities, circumstances and cultures, recognition at a time when their life choices are still to be made encouraging them to develop to their full potential.

"As individuals award holders change lives but as a group of community entrepreneurs have the power and ambition to build the cohesive society in which we would all like to live."

The conference, Unite to Challenge Bullying, gave young people the opportunity to come up with recommendations on how to stop different forms of bullying including homophobia, racism and cyber bullying.

It was run by South Gloucestershire Youth Board in conjunction with the South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Board.