Wokingham Borough Council was presented with its new Duke of Edinburgh's Award Operating Authority licence by HRH The Earl of Wessex at a ceremony on Thursday, February 2, at The University of Reading.
The licence allows the council to deliver the DofE to young people in the borough. Managed by the council’s youth service, the DofE is offered in six schools, three youth centres and through other community groups across the borough.
The Earl of Wessex spent time meeting volunteers who run the DofE throughout the Wokingham borough, including a group of students from The University of Reading.
The Honourable Mrs Bayliss, Lord Lieutenant for the Royal County of Berkshire, received His Royal Highness before he toured the University’s Henley Business School, escorted by the University of Reading’s Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell, borough mayor Councillor Dianne King and interim chief executive Andy Couldrick.
Cllr King said: “This is great news for Wokingham borough’s young people and for the wider community.
“The Duke of Edinburgh's Award encourages young people to learn new skills, to help others and to experience some great adventures. I know many young people at our schools and youth centres are already doing their DofE programmes and I hope many more will take the chance to get involved.
“I would also like to thank all those volunteers, who keep the DofE running locally, who give up their evenings and weekends to run these very successful programmes. Without their support, we wouldn’t have had the successes we have.”
Karl Hobley, president of Reading University Students’ Union (RUSU), said: “We were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, to The University of Reading.
“The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is looked upon highly by employers throughout the UK and further afield as an award which shows hard work, dedication and team work amongst other important life skills. The University of Reading and RUSU are incredibly proud of the commitment of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award society members and believe the royal visit goes a long way towards recognising this.”
More than 400 signed up to do their DofE in Wokingham last year and those young people have undertaken more than 3,150 hours of voluntary work.
This year, 16 young people completed their Gold Award, the most since the council became a unitary authority in 1998. Over the next year they will all be presented with their Awards at St James’ Palace. Next month, more than 180 Bronze and Silver Awards will be presented at the annual Awards ceremony at Bearwood Theatre in Sindlesham
Young people from the Foundry College vulnerable children’s unit, youth offending service and carer leavers are all currently doing their DofE programmes. Bulmershe Youth Centre’s Explorers Extreme club for young people with additional needs is successful with 37 Bronze and 11 Silver Awards being presented and one member of the club has recently achieved their Gold Award, a first for the club.
Story and image courtesy of www.getwokingham.co.uk