Adventurous People Wanted Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme

East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s youth and family support service is calling for young people with a taste for adventure to join the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme.

The service is holding recruitment evenings across the East Riding, and visiting schools and academies to encourage young people to take part in the award scheme.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a flexible programme of cultural and adventurous activities for people aged between 14 and 25, regardless of their background or ability. It is nationally and internationally recognised by colleges, universities and employers as a programme that participants have achieved and ‘done something different’ with their lives that makes them stand out from the crowd.

The award has three levels – bronze, silver and gold. Whatever level is undertaken, a personal programme of activities is achieved that includes a skill activity, a physical activity, a volunteering programme and an expedition. The bronze level can be completed in just nine months, silver in 12 months and gold level in 18 months. Many young people are already doing some of the activities as hobbies or interests.

The programme is an adventure from beginning to end, and young people have the opportunity to do something different, create new experiences, learn new skills, gain new friends and have fun. All training for expeditions is given, and most camping equipment can be borrowed from the Duke of Edinburgh Unit.

The costs of undertaking the awards are:- Bronze Award £130, Silver Award £230 and Gold Award £330. Financial assistance may be available to meet some of the cost, following a generous donation from the Dewhirst Charitable Trust.

Introduction evenings will be held as follows:-

• Market Weighton – Market Weighton School Library, Spring Road, Market Weighton, Thursday 9 February, 6.30pm
• Driffield – Driffield School Sixth Form Centre, Manorfield Road, Driffield, Tuesday 7 February, 7pm
• Haltemprice – The Hub, South Hunsley School, East Dale Road, Melton, Tuesday 7 February, 7pm
• Beverley – The Hexagon Centre, Coltman Avenue, Beverley, Wednesday 15 February, 7pm
• Cottingham – Cottingham High School senior school, Main Hall, Harland Way, Cottingham, Wednesday 1 February, 7pm
• Goole – Goole Academy, Centenary Road, Goole, Wednesday 1 March, 7pm.