Young offenders at an Oxfordshire young offenders' institution have received their Duke of Edinburgh's Awards from HRH The Earl of Wessex.

The Prince visited HMYOI Huntercombe in Henley-on-Thames and presented the bronze awards to the five teenagers.

The 17 and 18-year-olds were the first people at Huntercombe to get Duke of Edinburgh awards. It took them six months to complete the programme.

The institution is a Secure College and focuses on education provision.
Its stated aim is to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of those held there.

DofE East Regional Director Anne Newcombe accompanied Prince Edward around a range of stands from different areas of the prison that are involved in providing opportunities for DofE Participants.

Each stand was hosted by a member of Prison Staff and a prisoner who  explained to HRH what is involved and how it feeds into their DofE Skills - Painting and decorating, bricklaying, motor mechanics industrial cleaning, graphics Volunteering - Recycling Physical - Gym course and the DofE Expedition.

At the Fire Cadets stand a youth advocate who has been through the DofE programme returned to Huntercombe to talk about how the DofE programme had an influence on his life and how he is currently working as a volunteer on his release.