Inverclyde Council is an Operating Authority under licence to the Duke of Edinburgh’s award. The award is available to everyone aged 14-23 and is normally offered from Bronze level to each third year pupil at school.

Every participant needs to buy a starter pack to register with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

The award is now online based and participants take responsibility for their own records of their activity throughout the award. After completing a sign in sheet participants are provided with a log-in. Evidence, such as pictures, blogs, videos and assessors comments, can be uploaded to the site and this can be accessed at home and completed by the participant. If internet access or facilities such as scanners cannot be accessed at home, facilities will be provided at activity nights or lunchtime school visits, these will be announced through the school bulletin and assemblies as required.

The Award is split into sections of physical, skills, volunteering, expedition and, for gold, a residential stay. Details of timescales etc. can be found at www.dofe.org

Activity Nights are held each week to provide opportunities to complete the skills and physical section, watch this space for details for the new term. Activities vary on the number of participants and can include Archery, Football, Basketball, Arts and Crafts, DVD making, Guitar lessons etc. There is a small charge of 50p per week to cover equipment costs. Volunteering opportunities will also be made available throughout the year. If you do not have an activity for any section we can help!

Expeditions are held from March-October. For the Bronze award training is provided by the CLD youth work team and is an essential requirement. The first training event is an overnight stay at Lapwing Lodge which covers training on equipment, hygiene, food and cooking, camp craft, first aid and navigation skills. Following this a practice hike is undertaken which includes an overnight camp and then a qualifying hike is completed. Both are fully supervised. In the silver award supervision is reduced and gold participants are shadowed and have complete responsibility.

There is no cost to the participant for expeditions and equipment required for the expeditions such as tents, stoves, hiking boots, waterproofs etc. The only cost is provision of food for the expedition.

S3 Pupils can also choose Duke of Edinburgh as part of the S3 options programme.  This class supports pupils to develop a range of skill and supports the Bronze award programme.

For more information please contact:
Brian Collins
CLD Youth Work
01475 715450

Duke of Edinburgh staff are in school most Wednesdays at lunchtime and are based in ICT 6.  Information is also available from Mr Lamont in the Computing Science Department.