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A ‘ROYAL’ REWARD FOR YOUNG ADVENTURERS
Bexley’s Council Chamber was packed to the rafters last month with young people and the proud parents and friends who came to see them pick up their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
Over 100 Awards were presented to young people who had worked hard on a range of different skills, services and physical activities, completing a variety of expeditions including a 36km canoe expedition on the river Medway and a 50km walk in the Peak District.
Among the guests were Cabinet Member for Schools, Adult Education and Youth Services, Cllr Simon Windle, who was delighted to see so many young people taking part: “The Duke of Edinburgh scheme is a fantastic way of encouraging young people to take on exciting, constructive and enjoyable activities in their free time, allowing them to learn valuable lessons about teamwork and commitment. It is great to see so many of our young people taking part in the scheme with such enthusiasm. I congratulate them all on their success.”
Among the award winners were a team from Woodside School, who completed a three month community project at Woodlands Farm where they built a sensory garden. The team from the special needs school only came together in 2006. To complete the award they had to take part three month rock climbing course that finished with a 30ft ice climb and an overnight expedition on the North Downs.
During the evening, films were shown outlining special features on Award Winners including Richard Burtt, from the police cadets, who presented a short film about his residential project in Zambia.
The Mayor of Bexley Cllr Brian Beckwith, presented the Awards, along with Peter Fleet the Duke of Edinburgh’s London Regional Director. Peter Fleet was impressed by the dedication and hard work shown by the young people involved in the Award. “It takes a great deal of commitment to achieve any level of the Award. The challenges adopted by the young people are far from easy. It is great to see that so many of the borough’s young people have been involved in the Award, I hope that we will see even more next year.”
The adventurous youngsters received 80 bronze, 40 silver and 2 gold awards.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of practical, cultural and adventurous activities, designed to support the personal and social development of young people aged 14-25. The programme consists of four sections, service, skills, physical recreation and expeditions, with three progressive levels of bronze, silver and gold.
The service element encourages young people to become involved in a whole range of activities within the community. The skills element encourages the discovery and development of personal interests and social and practical skills; the physical recreation element allows young people to participate and make improvements within a chosen activity; whilst the expedition element helps encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery.
The Duke of Edinburgh Awards Team in Bexley sits within the Education Business Partnership. The Education Business Partnership brokers links between education, business and the wider community. Bexley EBP works with business and community volunteers, through various programmes, to raise the achievements of young people in Bexley Schools and colleges.
To find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh scheme in Bexley call Alan Haylock, Award Development Officer on 020 8836 8276, or e-mail alan.haylock@bexley.gov.uk
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A Sure Start
Greenmead children’s centre, Lime Row, Erith will be launched on the 2nd of March 2007. The centre offers education and health related activities for parent or carers and children aged 0 to 5 years old. Currently the centre offers a baby group on Tuesday mornings from 10.00 till 12.00 and a drop in, play, stay and borrow activity on Tuesday afternoon from 1pm till 2.30pm. Other activities include cookery courses. Training for parent/carers to help with gaining employment will start soon. For detail of activities please call 07966 959187 or email info.surestart@bexley.gov.uk.
To find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh scheme in Bexley call Alan Haylock, Award Development Officer on 020 8836 8276, or e-mail alan.haylock@bexley.gov.uk
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