Young people are being offered the chance to tackle the Duke of Edinburgh award (DofE) thanks to new funding for a community group.
Aspire 2 Inspire Communities, based on Regent Street, has received just over £10,250 for more than three years to help them run the DofE for the young people they work with.
The grant comes from the DofE’s Access Without Limits funding, which offers financial and practical support to allow community and voluntary organizations to run the DofE.
It aims to offer children and young people who would otherwise not have the chance to do the award the opportunity to discover new talents, develop lifelong skills and build their resilience and self-belief by working towards their DofE award.
Kalsoom Khanum, Director of Aspire 2 Inspire Communities, said: “A lot of the young people we work with have never had the opportunity to do something like the DofE.
“Having this chance will help our young people when applying for college and university, build their confidence, bring mental health benefits by helping them connect with nature, and give them lifelong skills.”
Aspire 2 Inspire Communities works with young people from black and minority ethnic communities, new and emerging communities, refugees and asylum seekers, families facing financial hardship, and young people with additional needs, disabilities and language difficulties.
The DofE is a non-competitive personal challenge, open to all young people aged 14-24. Each young person chooses their own activities in three sections – skills, physical and volunteering – and completes a challenging expedition.
When completed, these lead to a highly respected bronze, silver or gold DofE award.
The Duke of Edinburgh award is a non-competitive personal challenge, open to all young people aged 14-24 (Photo: Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
Aspire 2 Inspire Communities deliver a range of activities for young people – including running sports clubs and encourage them to volunteer at local food banks – which can directly contribute to each young person’s DofE.
The Access Without Limits funding will be used to train staff and volunteers, fund transport, and purchase equipment, to allow Aspire 2 Inspire to deliver the DofE sustainably in the long term.
Helen Foster, Director of DofE North of England, said: “Doing your DofE can be a life-changing experience.
“It gives young people a chance to have fun, discover new talents and passions, build their resilience and self-belief, make a difference in their communities, and pick up practical skills like leadership, teamwork and problem-solving – so they’re able to fulfill their potential and succeed in whatever they choose to do.
“It’s more important than ever that all young people get access to opportunities like this.
“So we couldn’t be happier that Aspire 2 Inspire Communities will now be offering the DofE to the young people they work with – and can’t wait to hear what they go on to achieve in the months and years ahead.”
