It’s critical we re-build young people’s resilience
As young people return to school it is important to ensure they do not miss out on extra-curricular activities that are proven to help their academic attainment and, perhaps more importantly than ever, support their mental health.
A recent study found that more than 70% of young people taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) felt that extracurricular activities were being de-prioritised because of academic pressures due to Covid. With 83% of young people also stating that the pandemic has made their mental health worse, widespread evidence shows that it is critical that they are able to take part in programmes like the DofE. These activities will be key in helping young people to reconnect properly with friends and their communities, and re-build their resilience and confidence, so they are more able to make progress in the classroom.
As the world’s leading youth achievement award, DofE equips young people aged 14 to 25 with the skills, experience, and confidence they will need to successfully navigate adult life. On completion, young people will receive an Award which is highly prized by colleges, universities, and employers.
Speaking about the DofE recently, HRH The Earl of Wessex said that
“In this present climate the DofE is going to be even more important than ever before because it’s those skills and experiences which are going to be looked for. It’s that sense of achievement that young people desperately need. They need to feel that they’ve really accomplished something and that’s really important for their own selfconfidence and their own self-belief.”
JLGB has delivered the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for the entire Jewish community since the Award first began in 1956, working to ensure that every young Jewish person can access a Kosher and Shabbat friendly DofE provision. With the generous support of the Pears Foundation, the JLGB now enrol over 900 Jewish young people for their Kosher DofE each year across Jewish schools, youth groups,
synagogues, and community centres around the UK.
The Bronze DofE Award is for pupils in Year 9 and Silver for those in Year 10, with both giving young people the chance to try something new, learn life skills and make a difference through the Volunteering, Physical, Skills or Expedition sections. With Silver there is no requirement to have already done or completed your Bronze Award.
DofE has recently introduced several changes, as a result of the pandemic, to allow non-residential expeditions to take place safely this spring, strictly following the guidelines of the NYA. Whilst expeditions may look slightly different to previous years, these
adaptations allow young people to participate safely, with all the benefits and memories DofE is renowned for.
During the recent lockdown, JLGB has been delivering ‘virtual’ expedition training as part of many Jewish schools’ home-school curriculum, with hundreds of young people signing up to take part in their DofE this month. With lockdown restrictions being eased and expeditions due to start in April after Pesach, there is still time to take part this academic year, but Sunday 21st March is the last chance to enrol in our final virtual training session.
For any young people who missed the in-school training, or that attend a non-Jewish school,
JLGB are offering a final virtual training day to prepare them for their expedition. This is specifically designed to ensure that young people do not miss out on the necessary requirements they need to fulfil before going out on their expeditions in the Spring Term. This training will equip them with useful, transferable skills for life; including first aid and what to do in an emergency, the countryside code, map reading, and cooking skills.
It costs just £199 to take part in Bronze DofE, and £219 to take part in the Silver Award. For readers of the Jewish Chronicle, JLGB are offering an extra £20 off when you use the discount code: CHRONICLE20
Please don’t let finances be the reason your child does not take part. Through JLGB, monthly payment plans, and financial assistance are available for families in need to ensure that all Jewish young people can access and take part in this important development programme. Please contact the JLGB team on 020 8530 8220 or dofe@ jlgb.org in the strictest confidence.
Following so many months of restrictions and with the end of lockdown in sight, it is vital that young people now have the opportunity to get outside, away from screens and have quality time with their friends. Sign your children up now for the final virtual training day on the 21st March at: