Well done all the young people receiving awards. This in earlier. Ed
Two Islanders will be receiving the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards on Thursday 30 September at Ventnor Botanic Garden.
Jake Packham, 25, and Dave Talbot, 24, have successfully completed the five sections needed to be awarded the Gold standard by carrying out a variety of tasks, some of which can take several days or weeks to complete.
To achieve a Gold Award, participants must display that they have completed the five tasks. These are demonstrating an improvement of a skill, physical recreation, volunteering in the community, carrying out an expedition and staying away from home for five days on a shared activity. This Gold Award process can take several months to complete.
Jake achieved his by leading an expedition in the Peak District, rowing across the Solent on a rowing machine onboard a ferry and developing knitting skills.
Dave completed his volunteering section by helping the local Green Gym, while also developing his conservation skills with ‘Naturezones’. He also took part in an expedition to the Cevennes in France before helping restore and maintain the grounds and buildings for a week at Weymouth Cathedral.
Silver awards for Islanders
They won’t be the only Islander’s picking up Duke of Edinburgh awards at Ventnor Botanic Garden. Sarah Burnham, 23, Robert Morrison, 25, and Poppy Chaucer, 15, will all receive Silver awards.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been dedicated to the personal development of young people from all backgrounds. It is open to people aged 14 – 25 and over 275,000 young people, including 30,000 from disadvantaged backgrounds, undertake DofE programmes to achieve Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards every year.
More details on how to become involved in the D of E Awards can be found by contacting Carol Taverner, Isle of Wight Council development worker on (01983) 823490 or 559028 or by emailing [email protected].
There are also regular group meetings which anyone is welcome to attend. These take place weekly in Ryde, Sandown. Cowes, Yarmouth and Newport.
