Borough Life Spring 2006: The beginning of a great adventure
There are three levels of award: bronze, silver and gold
To gain any of these levels, each entrant must complete four sections:
- Expeditions: training for, planning and completing a journey on foot or horseback, by boat or by cycle.
- Skills: covering almost any hobby, skill or interest.
- Physical recreation: sport, dance and fitness.
- Service: helping people in the community.
Pop along to one of Wigan’s awards centres
Awards Centres in Wigan Borough are based at:
- Kingsleigh Methodists, King Street, Leigh, Wednesday, 7pm-9pm.
- Ashton YMCA Annexe, Bolton Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Monday 7pm-9pm.
- Penson Street, Wigan, Monday 7pm-9pm.
Call in and you could join the 225,000 young people who are working towards a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in the UK at any one time.
The awards scheme operates in around 100 countries worldwide and to date more than 3.5 million young people have entered the UK award scheme, with more than 1.5 million achieving an award. Famous recipients include athlete Kelly Holmes, soccer hero Kevin Keegan, TV personality Sharon Osbourne, DJ Zoe Ball, Home Secretary Charles Clarke, explorer David Hempleman Adams, Pop Idol Darius and TV sports anchorman Jim Rosenthal.
For more information on volunteering, visit www.theaward.org
Pictured are Hayleigh Roberts, Nicola Maisey, Rachael Elvin, Jennette Marsden, Michael Thomas and Anthony Pemberton.
Volunteer trainer Helen Hindley puts aspiring award winners through their paces
Why not become a volunteer leader?
The awards would not be such a success without volunteers sharing their skills and knowledge with young people.
If you could help, contact Karen Holland on 01942 769813, or e-mail karen.holland@wigan.gov.uk
It’s been described as a voyage of personal discovery, an opportunity to face up to new and exciting challenges – and to overcome them. Preparation for life.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards are nothing new – they are 50 years old this year – but if you’re aged 14-25, the chances are everything else about it will be: new experiences, new skills, new friends and a new you!
The awards can take you anywhere you want to go. With hundreds of activities on offer around the north-west and around the world, they could mark the beginning of a great adventure.
Whichever route you choose, you can set your own goals and have lots of fun achieving them. And with three award centres, and several participating schools, colleges and voluntary groups around the borough, you can start that journey right here in your back yard.
Wigan Council’s Positive Futures is one of 400 organisations nationwide licensed to deliver the Awards and every year hundreds of local young people make the grade at the various levels.
Helen Hindley, from Leigh, was one of over 300 young achievers recognised at the annual Duke of Edinburgh’s Award celebrations at Wigan’s JJB Stadium.
The 18-year-old student earned her gold award last year and enjoyed the whole experience so much that she’s now a volunteer trainer, helping other young people from the borough to achieve their goals in life.
“I didn’t know what to expect at first,” she admits, “but it’s been a fantastic experience. I’ve been rock climbing and abseiling, kayaking and windsurfing, learned sign language, raised money for children’s charities, trained in first aid, taken part in exhibitions, done voluntary work, a triathlon, all kinds of things. It’s been incredible!
“The awards gave me the opportunity to be involved in all kinds of activities and projects, with all kinds of projects, with all kinds of people, and I feel I’ve developed dramatically as a person as a result. Instructors and others around me improved my confidence and self-belief, and I wanted to do the same for others.”
Helen is now one of a number of people, many of them volunteers, who share their skills, enthusiasm and organising abilities to help young people around the borough achieve something special.
She is currently training towards a Basic Expedition Leadership (BEL) award that will enable her to take charge of groups outdoors and organise base and mobile camps.
Wigan Council Award Officer Karen Holland says: “We have every right to feel proud of our young people and the number who benefit from the awards every year is absolutely staggering. Praise must go to all the awards helpers, teachers, leaders and parents who give their time helping them through the process.
“The awards are about fun and friendship, adventure and discovery, challenges and achievements.
“Young people who take part often discover traits and talents they never knew they had, like real self-belief, a sense of responsibility and leadership skills.
“They will develop new interests and skills and put them to the test in the world of work – that’s why the awards are widely recognised by employers and people involved in education.
“The awards are open to absolutely anyone and there are so many activities available that there’s something for everyone. It normally takes between six-12 months to gain the bronze award, 12-18 months for silver and 18-24 months for gold, which includes a five-day residential. And the experience is worth its weight in gold.”
For more information about the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, phone Karen Holland on 01942 769813, e-mail karen.holland@wigan.gov.uk or visit www.theaward.org