Open day to show benefits of Awards
New season for local Duke of Edinburgh group
Youngsters in Blairgowrie have the chance to get involved with the world’s leading youth achievement award.
The new season for the Blairgowrie Open Group of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award starts on Wednesday, October 26, with an open evening at the Adult Resource Centre in Jessie Street to which parents and young people are invited.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award aims to have a positive impact on young people’s lives, in terms of their personal development and employability.
It requires commitment, overcoming challenges and learning to work collaboratively with others, and can also be good fun.
The open group in Blairgowrie has been operating for over 20 years thanks to a team of dedicated and qualified volunteers, and has helped hundreds of young people achieve the award in that time.
Paul Cunningham, a spokesperson for the group, told the Blairie: “Although the coronavirus pandemic has slowed down participation in the last couple of years, we are hoping to recruit for another strong season this year.
“We currently have a group of bronze award participants and looking to recruit more, and are also looking to start a silver award group.
“The bronze award is open to anyone over the age of 13 years and nine months old, or third year at high school, while those aged 15 or older can enter directly at silver level.
“To complete the award, you’ll need to work hard over the year to achieve all the required sections – the volunteering, the physical recreation, the skill and the expedition.
“The expedition is the most well-known part of the award and demands different levels of commitment and skill depending on the age of the young person and what level of the award they are working
towards, either bronze, silver or gold.
“We are very lucky we live in Scotland, which makes it much easier for us to find suitable routes for these expeditions than those young people who live in the more densely populated areas of the UK.”
All levels require the participants to be capable of walking many miles with a heavy pack on their back and to be skilled and knowledgeable in navigation, campcraft and survival skills.
Training, led by experienced adult volunteers takes place throughout the winter and spring months and includes practice walks and camping expeditions.
The open group is supported by Perth and Kinross Council Children’s Services although largely run by volunteers.
More volunteers are always welcome, particularly to help training on a Wednesday and to be part of the support group that manages the finances.
The open evening gets under way at 7.30pm.
For further information contact Paul Cunningham by sending an email to paulcunningham@pkc.gov.uk or searching for ‘Blairgowrie DofE’ on Facebook. Alternatively, head along to the open evening on October 26.