Duke of Edinburgh Awards celebrates its biggest ever awards ceremony
Music legend Donovan teamed up with busker Murdo Mitchell to celebrate the achievements of over 500 young Glaswegians at a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) celebration this week.
The young people received their Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Monday – the biggest celebration of its kind in Scotland to date.
Award recipients worked for at least six months to get their DofE. They volunteered in their local community, participated in physical activity, learned a new skill and completed an expedition.
The night marked the culmination of a four year project to extend the reach of the DofE in Glasgow, supported by ScottishPower Foundation. Since the project began in 2010 over 2,000 more young people in Glasgow have developed their skills for life and work.
Barry Fisher, director of the DofE in Scotland, said: “I’m thrilled that so many young people received their DofE Awards. With support from ScottishPower Foundation we’ve been able to help thousands more young people in the Glasgow area achieve more than ever before. Our work in Glasgow is now sustainable and will continue forward now that the project has come to completion.”
Our work in Glasgow is now sustainable and will continue forward now that the project has come to completion
ScottishPower Inspiration Awards were also handed out on the night to DofE Leaders, centres and projects which showed commitment to the DofE that went above and beyond the everyday.
Ann Loughrey, trustee and executive officer of the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “The ScottishPower Foundation is committed to helping to improve the lives of young people across Scotland which is why we are delighted to support The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme.
“The awards are a major milestone in many young people’s lives and we are thrilled that so many will be able to enjoy another fantastic awards ceremony.”
Councillor Stephen Curran, executive member for education and young people, added: “In Glasgow we strive to offer as many opportunities as possible to our young people.
“The Duke of Edinburgh Awards is a wonderful example of this and I’m delighted that more and more Glasgow young people are achieving the different categories of awards.
“By taking part, the pupils are learning valuable life skills that they will build on and use as they move on to employment and further and higher education.”
