Leaders from Olympus Academy Trust visit Buckingham Palace

On 16th May 2016, Olympus Academy Trust leaders were invited to attend a once in a life time Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) Gold Award Presentation at Buckingham Palace, London. At the event the Trust was presented with a special plaque from the DofE Charity, acknowledging their commitment to running the DofE and thanking the organisation for giving young people the opportunity to transform their lives.

The DofE Award is the world’s leading youth achievement award that develops over 300,000 young people for life and work every year in the UK alone. It is celebrating its Diamond Anniversary throughout 2016, having supported millions of young people in the UK and across the globe to achieve the awards since it was founded by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956. The DofE develops tenacity, commitment and determination – admirable attributes that have a lasting impact, broadening each young person’s life and work prospects.

Members of the Royal Family; HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Earl of Wessex and HRH The Countess of Wessex, joined those that were present including school leaders, charities, corporate sponsors, and of course most importantly many young people who have completed their Gold awards over the last 60 years!

Led by the Olympus Academy Trust, Bradley Stoke Community School has been delivering the DofE for four years. In that time more than 60 of its young people have achieved a DofE Award after volunteering in their community, learning a skill, getting fit, and going on an expedition. Participation continues to grow, with another group of 55 students currently working towards their Awards from across the Trust. The award is widely acknowledged as the world’s leading achievement award for young people.

Angus Urquhart, DofE Lead at BSCS attended the presentation. Speaking proudly about their involvement with the DofE, Angus said: “Led by the Olympus Academy Trust, BSCS has held a licence to deliver the DofE for three years and I feel honoured to have been invited to Buckingham Palace to receive a commemorative plaque to acknowledge and say thank you for our work with the Charity during its Diamond Anniversary year. Our young people are encouraged to push themselves outside of their comfort zones when doing their DofE and the skills that they develop can be life-changing, so for us to be involved is something very special.”

In the last 60 years, over 5.6 million young people have started their DofE in the UK and almost 2.5 million have achieved Awards. At 60 years young, the DofE has never been more relevant for young people, providing a tried and tested framework of activities through which young people gain vital life and work skills.

Photos show above right Tom Hill, Director of BSCS Post 16, Dave Baker Executive Head OAT, Angus Urquhart DofE Lead at BSCS outside Buckingham Palace and left, Dave Baker and Angus Urquhart with TV presenter Julie Bradbury with the Trust’s award and plaque

This article first appeared in the July edition of Bradley Stoke Matters.

Posted in Uncategorised