Royal Seal of Approval for Merthyr Tydfil youngsters PR512
15th July 2008 Approximately 70 young people from Merthyr Tydfil who participate locally in the Duke of Edinburgh Award had the chance to talk about their positive experiences of the award with His Royal Highness, the Earl of Wessex KGKCVO- trustee the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Dolygaer Outdoor Education Centre today (Monday 14 July 2008).
The Earl met youngsters, aged between 14 and 18 from several schools and youth service facilities within Merthyr Tydfil including Greenfields Special School, who showcased the activities in which they participate as part of the award. The young people demonstrated newly acquired skills such as camp craft, coracle making, and Mountain Emergency Aid, fire fighting and chatted to His Royal Highness in the informal setting at Dolygaer for just over an hour.
Lloyd Rees and Amy Thomas of Cyfarthfa Youth Club also made a presentation about a Citizenship DVD and the highlights of an expedition to Canada last summer to the Earl and other guests including Merthyr Tydfil's First Citizen His Worship the Mayor, and Cllr Jeff Edwards, Leader of the Council.
The Award provides young people with the opportunity to undertake personal development in a fun and friendly way, through completing the four sections of the award. Building and maintaining relationships with other young people is central to success within the award as you progress from bronze through to Gold levels of the award. The award is recognised by colleges and employers throughout Britain as a unique training programme that adds value to a young person and increases the individuals ability to progress through the skills gained.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award has been particularly successful in Merthyr Tydfil as Chris Hole, Principal Youth officer at the Council explained: "There are currently 13 Award groups operating in the County Borough in a wide range of settings including schools, youth clubs, voluntary organisations and alternative education programmes, with over 200 young people enrolled at Bronze, Silver and Gold.
"The Award in Merthyr Tydfil continues to build on it’s success with 63 young people achieving their Award during 2007-2008. In relation to the 14-25 population of young people in Merthyr Tydfil this places the County Borough in the top quarter of Award completions in Wales which is excellent."
Ray O' Neill, the Council's Duke of Edinburgh Award Development Officer, within the youth service, highlighted the the plans for the future: "The Youth Service in partnership with the 14-19 learning Pathways programme is seeking to enable more young people to be given the opportunity to participate in the Award. This will be achieved through developing existing services where the Award can be delivered and supported in addition we will be looking to expand it into new areas within the County Borough."
Councillor Gareth Jones, Portfolio Member for Integrated Adults Services said: "This event and the entire programme relates to the Councils vision and aims since the programme develops independent citizens who develop through learning contributing both to their own development and the development of their communities. Participation in the award through the sections also helps to improve a young persons health and fitness, alongside the skills gained these young people are equipped to deal with some of the challenges life throws at them. It truly is a wonderful programme and Merthyr Tydfil is rightly proud of the young people participating in this."
To view further images, please select the following link: Royal Visit images
Anyone interested in getting involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award can either drop into a local youth centre, ask at your local school or contact the Council's Youth Service Duke of Edinburgh Award Development Officer Ray O’Neil on 01443 693498 or email ray.o’neil@merthyr.gov.uk
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