Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this report. Congratulations to all the young people for their great achievements. Ed
Thirty three young Islanders have recently gained Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. At a ceremony in Ryde most of the thirty three participants received their awards from Cllr. Dawn Cousins, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education. Cllr. Cousins was introduced by Carol Taverner D of E Facilitator for the Island.
Humbled by young peoples’ acheivements
Cllr. Cousins said she was humbled when hearing of some of the activities undertaken by the young people.
These varied from undertaking conservation projects, circus skills and sports to completing expeditions in very bad weather conditions and sailing on tall ships in the North Sea.
Four Gold Awards
Receiving Gold Award Badges at the ceremony were Christopher Cooper and Matthew Eglinton from the South Wight Open Award Centre and Jennifer Stirling from Sandown Bay Academy.
Luke Potter was unable to attend the ceremony but had also reached Gold standard. They will attend presentations at one of the Royal Palaces to receive their Gold Award Certificates which will be presented by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or HRH Prince Edward, a Gold Award holder himself.
Eight Silver Awards
Eight students received Silver Awards – four from Sandown Bay Academy-Alasdair Malcolm, Amber Pierce, Megan Wood and Sophie Wrixon and four from Carisbrooke College-Alex Berry, Peter Broadhead, Alfred Harwood and Harry Mowle.
After already completing their Bronze Awards in 2011 the four Carisbrooke College students have now completed their Silver Awards by undertaking the four sections comprising each award.
All these students undertook the challenges of sports, skills and volunteering as well as a three day two nights expedition in the New Forest on one of the wettest weekends of this year in July (and there have been a few wet weekends this year!)
Altogether nine students from Carisbrooke College, now studying at the IIT 6th Form Campus, were presented with their certificates on completion of their Duke of Edinburgh Awards with five students – William Pearce, Bryony Wedge, Sherena Jackson, Ben Hobbins and Chris Brett undertaking the four sections of Bronze Awards, including a two day one night hiking expedition on the Island.
Twenty-one Bronze Awards
In total 21 young people gained Bronze Awards this year. Presented with Awards at the ceremony were: Josh Kerr, Jack McMurray (St. Catherine’s School with Newport Open Award Centre), Sophie Pelham, Lucy Scholes( IW Deaf Club), Farran Bird, Fenn Kennedy, Kerryn Parkinson and Albion Sothcott (Ryde Extreme Performers) plus three students from Priory School: Oisin Kuhnke, Harry Matyjaszek and Amy Stratton. Five other students from Priory School were unable to attend.
As well as the young people receiving their Awards eleven D of E group leaders or assessors received certificates for long service to the charity.
Astrid Davies (Award Manager for IWC) congratulated all those gaining Awards saying that she wished that she had had the opportunity to undertake an award whilst at school.
