South East News
Sir John Madejski visits HMYOI Reading
The Chairman of Reading FC, Sir John Madejski, visited HMYOI Reading in June to celebrate the achievement of the latest group of young offenders to have achieved their DofE through the FLT partnership.
Sir John’s delight with the work undertaken by Reading’s community staff and HMYOI Reading was demonstrated by his effusive praise for the individuals who’s passion drove the project forward and, most importantly, for the young people.
Reading FC provide coaching training and football sessions for the prison who support the club with their expeditions. Also present at the event were some of the stars of the new DofE Volunteering videos who are now working towards their Gold DofE and the prison’s governor, David Rogers.
For more information on Reading FC’s work with the prison and Sir John’s visit click here
Philippa receiving her Gold Award
Kent's 100th Gold!
The presentation to 18 year old Philippa Harris from Boughton Lees marked the 100th young person from Kent to achieve a Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award in one year.
The DofE programme has been delivered in Kent for at least 35 years, through Kent County Council's Youth Service. It is aimed at encouraging young people aged 14-24 to get involved in activities which help their own personal development as well as helping out in their local community and helping others.
Since 2005, 474 Golds have been awarded to young people in the county. 4000 young people started their programme in 2009/10 and at any one time, there are around 6500 undertaking a DofE programme at Bronze/Silver/Gold level.
Philippa attends Highworth Grammar and she has also achieved the Bronze and Silver Awards while at school. For her Gold programme she got involved in animal welfare, dog handling training, dancing and took part in a four day expedition in the Peak District.
Philippa said: "It's a big commitment but fun and rewarding at the same time. It got me doing things I wouldn't normally have done."
Our photograph shows Philippa being presented with her Award from Avtar Sandhu, Deputy Cabinet Member for Community Services at Kent County Council.
Anyone interested in taking part in a DofE programme in Kent can find out more at http://www.kent.gov.uk/education_and_learning/kent_youth_service/duke_of_edinburgh.aspx
4/5/10
The South Downs – England’s newest national park
From 1 April 2010 the South Downs National Park Authority became the legal body responsible for running the National Park. The 632 square mile protected area, home to an estimated 108,000 people, will stretch from Beachy Head in East Sussex to the edge of Winchester in Hampshire. The National Park Authority, which will be fully operational in 2011, will now pick up the role of coordinating work on conservation and recreation in the Park’s boundary.
For further Information visit http://southdownsdofe.co.uk/index.html A map of the national park can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/rural/national-parks/south-downs/index.htm
Gold Award Presenter - Hanna McKeand
On Tuesday 16th March 2010 we were very pleased to welcome Hannah McKeand to St James’s Palace as a Presenter of Gold Awards. This event provides a very fitting recognition to the achievements of the Award Holders and allows them to meet and discuss their Programmes with The Duke of Edinburgh.
Hannah gave a short but inspiring insight into what has driven her to successfully scale a number of mountains, complete a round the world yacht race and several expeditions to the North Pole! She now has the South pole firmly in her sights. Hannah finished her talk by offering to provide information and guidance to any young person who is dreaming of exploration beyond their Gold and so we have provided a link to her website below where should you wish to follow up on her adventures or ask her a question. Please mention ‘DofE’ when you write to her so she knows you’re up for a challenge!!
23/03/10
Delivering DofE programmes to young people with disabilities
The EMAS regional office is delighted to report the success of a study visit programme, tailored for the vice-chair of Gençlik ÖdülüDernegi, The Award in Turkey, Melek Müderrisgil and DofE Leader, Aysun Yetim, which took place in February.
The aim of the visit was to learn more about delivering DofE programmes to young people with disabilities. Turkish delegates had a chance to meet with Award participants from Downs Link View College and from Hamilton Lodge Residential School for students with hearing disabilities in Brighton.
Many thanks to all those who contributed to this unique study visit, including Roger Simmons (Brighton & Hove) who co-ordinated it and Caroline Manningham at Hamilton Lodge School.
24/03/10
South Downs National Park – Update
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) recently announced the national members appointed to the South Downs National Park Authority. The appointees are:
- Sir Sebastian Anstruther;
- Kenneth Bodfish, OBE;
- Jeremy Leggett;
- Margaret Paren;
- Sue Saville;
- Thomas Tupper;
- Susan Warren.
A further 20 members appointed from County, Unitary, Borough and District Councils, which equates to one for each of the councils affected by the National Park, the twenty also includes six representatives from Parish and Town Councils.
These voluntary appointments will begin on 1 April and will run for three or four years, at the end of which they will be eligible for re-appointment. The appointments coincide with the Authority will come into being, subject to the agreement of Parliament, although full statutory responsibilities will not be assumed until the following April.
The primary role of the Authority will be to promote National Park purposes, which are to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area and to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the South Downs National Park to the public.
The Authority will work to encourage the social and economic wellbeing of the local communities within the Park by working in partnership with organisations from across the area for the benefit of the South Downs National Park and those who live, work and enjoy the area.
Many of you may recall the involvement of the region in the early stages of the consultation with DEFRA and it is this partnership we are keen to continue through the work of the South Downs Expedition Assessor Network. Members of the network have been influential in both the development of the National Park and local access committees. This involvement has ensured that the views of young people have been voiced in the development of the Authority and their needs considered.
If you are planning a visit to the South Downs National Park as part of your DofE Expedition the South Downs Expedition Assessor Network is able to offer various support please visit
www.southdownsdofe.co.uk for more information.
Cookout Expedition Food Courses
Food Hygiene on Expedition
Food is major part to a successful trip, so an outbreak of food poisoning could be disastrous. Helen Littlejohn from Cookout gives some advice on the importance of good food hygiene.
Imagine you’re running a residential course for 50 college students. The group are cooking for themselves and a student is sick on the first day; but you don’t send them home. Gradually more students and staff have sickness and diarrhoea. It affects group morale and curtails your activities, so you have to come home early. Parents are unhappy and the college reputation damaged.
Could this happen to you? Last year 72,000 people had food poisoning in the UK, with a cost to employers and the NHS of £750m (source: Health Protection Agency).
The Food Safety Act 1990 made it an offence for anyone to process food which is harmful to health, whether charging for the food or not. The Food Hygiene Regulations (England) 2006 and Regulation (EC) No.852/2004 state that you must have written procedures in place to prove what you do to make food safe to eat.
For outdoor leaders, you have a legal responsibility to ensure food is safe to eat, whether you are cooking for the group or the group cook for themselves. You are breaking the law if you do not have a written risk assessment on food hygiene or cannot prove you have done some food hygiene training with your group. You could be taken to court over an outbreak of food poisoning. Environmental Health suggest leaders should also have a basic food hygiene certificate. You might like to use these 4 Cs to brief the group: cross contamination, cleaning, cooking and chilling.
Cross contamination is one of the most common causes of food poisoning, where bacteria is spread between food, surfaces and equipment. Raw food touches ready-to-eat food and dirty hands can infect fridge doors, taps and light switches. Keep raw and ready-to-eat food separate by using different chopping boards and utensils and store raw food at the bottom of the fridge.
14/08/09