Royalty to visit Shropshire

Press release - 10 September 2007

Shropshires Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Participants will get their chance to meet with Royalty when HRH The Earl of Wessex officially hands over to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Operating Licence. His Royal Highness, trustee of the charity which is still celebrating its 50th Anniversary, will be visiting Shropshire County Council on Thursday 13 September for the prestigious ceremony.

His Royal Highness will also meet and talk with Award participants who will also receive Award Certificates for completion of Bronze and Silver Awards. In addition a number of Award Unit Leaders will receive long service certificates in recognition of their contribution and work with young people over a period of many years service.

Brian Gillow, The Chairman of Shropshire County Council said: “We are honoured and delighted by the visit of HRH The Earl of Wessex. The DoE Award Scheme continues to go from strength to strength each year. Shropshire County Council is delighted to receive an Operating Licence that endorses not just working practice in our policies and procedures but also enables us to continue high quality provision to young people in Shropshire – the same young people who never fail to impress with their dedication and enthusiasm in completing their personal journeys through the Award Scheme – experiences that through time are never forgotten”.

Mr David Thorley, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Officer for Shropshire County Council said: “The Award has enabled young people to learn vital skills such as confidence, leadership and perseverance for over 50 years. I am thrilled that we are able to offer young people of Shropshire the opportunity for them to continue to benefit from participation in the Award for many years to come. It is particularly exciting that HRH The Earl of Wessex will be helping us to celebrate the issuing of a new Operating Licence and in raising the profile of this terrific scheme, that has enabled nearly 800 young people to participate this year, and I am sure that his presence will provide a huge boost to all those that will be present.

Since 1956 The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been committed to providing for 14-25 year olds from any background, an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development. It helps install qualities within young people such as self-belief, perseverance and leadership skills and is one of the leading personal development programmes for young people in the country.

Over 50,000 adult volunteers give up their spare time to help young people to complete their Award and each year participants give in excess of two million hours of service to the community, as well as spending over 4 million hours on sports and skills and collectively walking, riding, canoeing or sailing over three million miles to complete their Expedition Section.

ENDS

[Representatives and participants of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award will be available for interview before and after the Royal visit.] If you would like to send a photographer/reporter to cover the event please contact local press contact:
John Hargreaves – Head of Communications. Te: 01743 252813.

For more information please contact:
David Thorley, Shropshirficer
Tel: 01743 254485
Email: Dave.Thorley@shropshire-cc.gov.uk

Notes to Editors:
Over 500,000 participants are trying for an Award at any one time, with over 250,000 of these in the UK.
There were over 151,000 new entrants last year in the UK, and over 61,000 achieved their Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.

Ethnic minority new entrants increased by 28% between 2004/2005 and 2005/2006.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a registered charity run with the support of over 50,000 volunteers and 10,000 partner organisations.

Since 1956, over 3.8 million young people have participated in the UK Award.

Currently almost 7% of 14-17 year olds in the UK are taking part through Award Groups in youth clubs, voluntary organisations, Open Award Centres, schools, colleges, young offender institutes and businesses.

In 1988 The International Award Association was established to co-ordinate and develop the Award worldwide and since 1956, over 6 million young people in over 123 countries have taken up the challenge.

The Award was founded by the Patron, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. TRH The Duke of Edinburgh and The Earl of Wessex continue to be involved with the organisation to this date.

Local Stats in Shropshire: 748 paticipants enrolled d Scheme, 55 operating units, 356 awards gained last year 256 at Bronze, 53 at Silver and 29 at Gold level.

Further information can be found at www.theaward.org