Urgentpleaformore DofEvolunteers

An urgent plea has been launched for more volunteers to help run the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme in Perth and Kinross.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is the UK’s leading youth achievement award.

There are three progressive levels bronze, silver and gold. It is open to any young person aged 14-24.

At Perth and Kinross Council’s scrutiny committee last week a request was made for more volunteers.

The council currently has 1200 participants registered through them, with another 120 waiting for a space.

That’s a shortfall of 10 per cent which the council are keen to see filled by willing volunteers.

Scrutiny committee convener, Councillor Laing, spoke of his own daughter’s struggle to take part.

He said: “At my daughter’s school they had to do a ballot to do Duke of Edinburgh because of a shortage of volunteers.”

When asked if this was widespread across the council area, head of secondary and inclusion, Rodger Hill, said: “We would have 120 more participants if we had more volunteers. It is an issue that we are looking at through recruitment.

“The Duke of Edinburgh is a high quality project with a high completion rate.”

The award scheme has been running for over 70 years - transforming the lives of young people from all walks of life over that time.

Participants are asking to take part in physical activities, volunteering, life skills and expeditions.

The scheme is widely valued by both employers and places of further education.

The council would warmly welcome any volunteers and say that full training would be given.

Anyone who’s interested should email enquiries@ pkc.gov.uk