Duke Of Edinburgh project leader full of praise for youngsters at awards event

INSPIRATIONAL youngsters were praised for their dedication to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

This year, 126 young people from across North East Lincolnshire took part in the scheme and took home bronze and silver awards.

They were pushed and challenged to achieve the accolade, run in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council's Young People's Support Services, which they hope will secure them places at university, apprenticeships and eventually full-time work.

Sue Campbell, project lead for the DoE, described them as "truly talented and inspirational" at the award ceremony at Grimsby Town Hall.

She said: "It has been absolutely amazing. We have given more awards than ever. These young people are an inspirational bunch.

"It is a massive tribute to the staff, volunteers and supporters of all these young people."

To achieve a silver award, youngsters were tasked with two nights camping in Derbyshire, plus an activity in volunteering, skill and physical categories.

The bronze required one night camping in the Lincolnshire Wolds.

Thirty youngsters with learning and physical disabilities took part in the Challenge Award, which was also presented.

Isaac Smith, 16, from Toll Bar Academy, said: "It was the best experience of my life. I would do it a million times over. I learned a lot, especially how to stay away from my X-Box!"

Georgia Taylor, 19, now studies Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Sheffield. She achieved her silver DoE after teaching others Japanese.

She said: "It really pushed me to find out what I can do. It was great to teach other people because I remember learning it and how difficult it was. I would definitely recommend others to do the DoE."

Emilie Peaker, 14, from Cordeaux Specialist Engineering College, achieved her bronze. She volunteered at Rainbows, completed first aid and went to the gym.

She said: "I made a lot of friends. It was hard work but it feels good I got my bronze."

Aaran Smith, 21, has cerebral palsy and goes to Linkage College. He achieved his Challenge Award for making a film about the project which was then shown to the audience of proud parents.

He said: "I feel very proud. I made a lot of new friends and developed new skills."

Deputy manager for disability services for charity, Care for All, Anne O'Flinn, heads the Challenge Awards. She said: "The ethos for the Challenge Awards is the same as DoE. It enabled them to experience all the different activities in a way comfortable to them.

"It gives them great personal achievement, they make new friends and push their personal boundaries. They leave with great self esteem and pride."

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Award winners in full

Sectional certificates BRONZE

Medalena Meleddu

Sam Smith

Faith Ademefun

Max Cotterill

Oliver Halkou

Calum Hollingshead

Hannah Jones

Sectional Certificates GOLD

Simon Ferrand

Challenge Awards BRONZE

Hannah Jones

Adam Morton

Ryan Cook

Victoria Francis

Hannah Borlais

Stephanie Cannaby

Zoe Taylor

Josh Martin

Nicholas Steele

Barney Ankers

Sam Smith

Joel Gross

Lucy Dickens

Challenge Awards SILVER

Laura Dennis

Nat Gaskell

Oliver Halkoku

Charlotte Hawkins

Arran Smith

Harry Cecil Smith

Ben Clayton

Tim Gillott

Hannah Rollings

Faith Ademefun

Katy Hodkinson

Challenge Awards GOLD

Katie Hewitt

Sam Toyton

Callum Swales

Duke of Edinburgh Award Certificates BRONZE

Macaulay Mattern

Peter Horobin

Alicia Lewis

Laura Barnes

Rebecca Fox

Laura Neild

Samantha Neild

Liam Bramham

Kirsty Whitfield

Earl Smalley

Isaac Smith

Oliver Board

Ryan Cattley

Katie Leonard

Greg Turner

Toby Millington

Ethan Codd

Bradley Worrall

Michael Avis

Sophie Goldsmith

Lucy Baldock

Danielle Besson

Tom Beeken

Emily Peaker

Beth Elliott

Kristina Howes

Rys Belding

Emily Howes

Francine Horn

Grace Dixon

Hollie Wright

Courtney Elford

Naomi Davies

Maddy Mathews

Daniel Lines

Eva Gabbitas

Joshua Wellham

James Marrison

Martin Taylor

Hannah Raven

Anna Simons

Andrew Webb

Melissa Webb

John Paul Mortin

Daniel Brentnall

Amy Burns

William Cottingham

Olivia Cressey

Alisha Fisher

Ellie-Mae Horton

Kieron Davis

Christopher Lamb

Daniel Lines

Harriet Nadin

Anna Pendred

Emma Horsley

Emma Piercy

Megan Potter

Gareth Pirie

Matthew Russell

Jenifer Short

Charlotte Waite

Alex Walker

Bethany Matthews

Amelia Croucher

Billy Brookes

Ella Goldsmith

Georgia Lamberton

Harriet Stenton

Greg Ward

Josh Smith

Charlotte Barley

Adam Walsh

Alisha Woulfe-Flanagan

Josh Wimsey

Jake Bates

Ellie Crump

Becky Atkin

Ben Ayres

Frankie Thompson

Lilli Stables

Duke of Edinburgh Award Certificates SILVER

Brooke Robson

Jessie Hartley

Laurence Cook

Olivia Whitworth

Holly Short

Sven Peterson

Becky Lester

Daniel Huntley

Alex Gilbanks-Miller

Mollie Nicholson

Georgia Legge

Alex Hall

Georgia Taylor

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THE Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the world’s leading achievement award for young people.

The charity was established in 1956 and says it “aims to create a world where young people aged 14 to 24 can reach their full potential whatever their circumstances”.

A spokesman said: “Our ethos is to enable every young person of every background to do their DofE and succeed, regardless of any barriers.

“We provide a balanced programme of activities that develops the whole person – mind, body and soul – in an environment of social interaction and team-working. Young people progress through three levels of DofE programmes to achieve a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.

“Taking part builds confidence and develops self-esteem. It requires persistence, commitment and has a lasting impact on the attitudes and outlook of all young people who do their DofE.

“Demand continues to rise year on year - you can read our latest statistics here. We have ambitious plans for growth and development and we look forward to working with all our partners to make our goals a reality.”

Here are the most recent statistics, for 2011-12...

Participants – about 275,000

New starters – 211,900

Awards achieved – 92,194

Social value of young people’s volunteering activities - more than £21 million

DofE centres –– 10,874

Leaders/volunteers – about 45,000

Social value of volunteers’ activities - £15 million

Awards achieved since 1956 in the UK – 2,145,283

Number of participants globally – 850,000

Number of countries running DofE programmes – more than 140

Participants since 1956 globally – more than 8 million

Current number of volunteers globally - more than 190,000

To get involved in the scheme, visit www.dofe.org or call 01472 323212.