WORCESTERSHIRE is top of the table when it comes to the number of young people taking up the Duke of Edinburgh Award challenges.
More than 1,600 completed an accolade thanks to the county council’s work with 42 schools and youth organisations over the past year.
No less than 2,740 enrolled in the three award categories – bronze, silver and gold – an increase of over five percent in the past year.
The council supports 600 adult volunteers, allowing young people to experience the award programme.
Regional statistics show a 59 per cent completion rate, beating the national target of just over 50 per cent.
Coun Marc Bayliss, Cabinet Member with responsibility for children and families said the news was ‘fantastic’ for the region, claiming the council was ‘lucky’ to have the ‘army’ of volunteers to train the young people.
The achievement was marked by two gold award winners – Michael, an independent participant, and Megan, of Worcester Sixth Form College – attending a special award presentation at Buckingham Palace, where DofE celebrity supporters, Jim Rosenthal and Danny Cipriani, were present along with HRH The Earl of Wessex.
Both Michael and Megan completed the five sections of their DofE programme which included a week long residential activity, along with a gruelling expedition in the West Highlands for Michael and Snowdonia for Megan.
Michael led his Air Cadet troop, studied aeronautics and took up rowing as his activities over a four year period, whilst Megan undertook activities such as peer education, critical thinking and netball, which she completed after five years of hard work.
Michael and Megan were ‘honoured’ to be invited to the Palace, saying DofE is something they will ‘always’ remember and be ‘proud’ of.
Chief executive of the DofE charity, Peter Westgarth, said their achievement was ‘extraordinary’ and that the pair had ‘given back’ to their communities.
Visit www.DofE.org for more information or www.DofEDiamondChallenge.org to find out how you can support the DofE charity.
