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Confidence boost with the Duke

The Duke of Edinburgh Award was recently introduced to Year 10 students at St. Chad's. 20 of the students who applied to join the programme were accepted. The award is a challenging and very rewarding programme for boosting confidence.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a programme for 14 - 25 year olds, who want to get involved with extra curriculum activities. The programme is voluntary so young people have their own choice whether to enter or not.

There are 4 parts to the programme:

  • Service - Helping the community

  • Skill - Covering hobbies or interests

  • Physical Recreation - Sport, dancing etc.

  • Expedition - Completing a journey on foot

    • Students at St. Chad's can chose from activities ranging from:

  • Trampolining
  • Martial arts
  • Rowing
  • DIY
  • Guitar
  • Video Making
  • Journalism
  • Drama
  • Going to an old person's home
  • Going to a primary school
  • Permentoring
  • Teaching young cadets.

    • For the expedition the Year 10 students will be going on a day trip to Moel Tamual in January, a two-day trip to Betws'y'Coed in Easter and a three-day trip to Ennerdale, Lake District in the summer half term.

    The programme is divided in 3 different levels:

  • The first level is bronze
    • , which is for people aged 14 and over.
  • The second level is silver,
    • which is for people aged 15 and over.
  • The last level is gold,
    • which is for 16 and over.

    The time it takes to complete the award varies:

  • 6 - 12 months - bronze

  • 12 - 18 months - silver

  • 18 - 24 months - gold.

    • The scheme is 50 years old and was introduced by the Duke of Edinburgh himself.

    by Michael Harpur
    article published 17th January 2006