Charity recognises the amazing achievements of young people in West Cheshire

2,564 young people from West Cheshire, who take part in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, have been recognised by the charity for the work they have done in their community.

The charity has calculated that the social value of the time the young people have committed in the last financial year (April 2019 to March 2020) is an amazing £156,473. This has been calculated from the 35,951 hours they have logged volunteering in the community.

This fantastic achievement has been completed alongside the physical activity and new skills young people learn as they undertake the award.

The charity has adapted the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) programme this year due to the COVID-19 restrictions with some expeditions and residentials currently put on hold. Despite this, since lockdown began, young people all over the UK have shown amazing motivation and commitment to keep their skills, volunteering and physical sections going with remote learning and distance opportunities. 

Some of the voluntary and charity work young people have completed includes tutoring, helping neighbours, delivering food parcels and fundraising for a charity.

Edsential, a community interest company owned by Cheshire West and Chester Council and Wirral Council, is the licensed organisation responsible for the delivery of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in west Cheshire.

Councillor Bob Cernik, Cabinet Member for Children and Families said: "This is a fantastic achievement for all the young people who have taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the last year and I'm very proud of what they've accomplished. Over the last few months, as our communities have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic, we've seen the real difference that volunteers can make to other people's lives.  By playing their part these young people have learnt new skills whilst giving back to others in the local area.

“I hope, and would like to encourage, even more young people to sign-up to take part during the next academic year.”

Karen Green MBE, Duke of Edinburgh's Award Manager for Edsential said: “We are so proud to have seen record numbers of young people across Cheshire West and Chester take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award this year. The DofE and the Junior Award Scheme for Schools (JASS) Programmes are so important in actively engaging participants in both physical and mental health and wellbeing, which is more important for our young people now than ever before.

“Our young people have shown real empathy and ingenuity this year in adapting their voluntary work whilst their expeditions and residentials are on hold, to better support their communities. Outdoor learning and residential visits are an important part of the Award in developing confidence and wellbeing. Rest assured, we are looking forward to supporting our participants in resuming these key elements of their Award soon.”

Anyone interested in taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or the Junior Award Scheme for Schools can find out more by visiting: www.edsential.com  or contacting dofe@edsential.co.uk.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a voluntary, non competitive programme of activities for anyone aged 14 - 24.