HRH The Earl of Wessex will be in Hartlepool on Monday 22 June when he will visit Catcote School, have lunch at Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience and visit St Hild’s School.

The Earl is heavily involved in the DofE as a Trustee of the UK and of the International Award Association and also as a Gold Award holder.

His Royal Highness will visit Catcote School in Catcote Road where DofE Leaders will describe strategies used to overcome severe disabilities and how these students are included. They will introduce students putting up tents, cooking, first aid activities and students working on team building exercises.

DofE participants will be showcasing the Volunteering, Skills, Physical and Expedition sections demonstrating their link with TFM Radio producing podcasts for their own radio station, learning sign language and showing photos and sharing experiences of expeditions, home and overseas.

At Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience, The Earl will meet local youngsters who have created displays showing their DofE achievements. There will also be a display of how DofE programmes are delivered in the Secure Estate at HMYOI Castington.

The Earl will then meet many DofE supporters at a special lunch. At the same venue The Earl will also visit the paddle steamer Wingfield Castle, from which he will watch up to 50 young people who are doing their DofE programme participating in a water sports event in the neighbouring Jackson Dock.

The young people will be demonstrating their skills, whilst being involved in a fun competitive activity. The Earl will then present a trophy and medals to the winning team. Moving onto St Hild’s School in King Oswy Drive, The Earl will meet young people who will talk about a collage that they have made following a recent expedition and DofE participants from Hartlepool United Football Club who will demonstrate a football activity they undertake for their Physical section.

Nicola Meredith, Director for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in the North East said: “The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in the North East of England is thriving. I’m delighted that HRH The Earl of Wessex recognises this with his visit to Hartlepool where he will get to see the vast range of activities that are undertaken to complete a DofE Award.”