Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award was launched in 1956 by HRH Prince Philip. As a young adult he had participated in a similar scheme called the Moray Badge.

Philip writes, "In the summer of 1938 I found myself walking 5 miles as fast as I could along country roads in Morayshire. I had never done anything like it before and I fervently prayed I would never have to do anything like it again. It so happens that my prayer was answered because I was successfully completing a section of the Moray Badge, a direct ancester of what has become known as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award."

He developed the ideas and philosophy of the Moray Badge and launched the Duke of Edinburgh's Award for boys in 1956. It was extended to girls in 1958. Initially the boys focussed on industrial activities such as joinery and mechanics and girls focussed on domestic activities such as cookery and dressmaking. The Award is now open to all young people between the ages of 14-25 years, regardless of their sex, race, size or academic ability and the same programme is available to everyone.

The Award is:-

· non competitive - it's a personal challenge, not a competition;

· voluntary - it's up to you what you do, it's your leisure time;

· flexible - the programme is designed by you, for you;

· balanced - it will stretch you in all dimensions;

· progressive - you improve at your pace;

· achievement focussed - you can't fail;

· a marathon, not a sprint - it takes more than a short burst of effort;

· a process - not a prize; and

· enjoyable - it's about getting out there and having fun.

The Award is divided into 3 levels:- Bronze, Silver and Gold. At 14 you can start Bronze, at 15 you can start Silver and at 16 you can start Gold. There are 4 activities that you need to participate in at Bronze and Silver and 5 at Gold.

TIMESCALES FOR INVOLVEMENT

BRONZE AWARD

SERVICE	SKILLS	PHYSICAL RECREATION	EXPEDITIONS
3 months	3 months	3 months	Plan, prepare for and undertake a 2 day venture.
Plus one of the above for a further 3 months

SILVER AWARD

SERVICE	SKILLS	PHYSICAL RECREATION	EXPEDITIONS
6 months	One Section for 6 months and the other Section for 3 months.		Plan, prepare for and undertake a 3 day venture.

GOLD AWARD

SERVICE	SKILLS	PHYSICAL RECREATION	EXPEDITIONS	RESIDENTIAL
12 months	One Section for 12 months and the other Section for 6 months.		Plan, prepare for and undertake a 4 day venture.	Undertake a shared activity in a residential setting away from home for 5 days and 4 nights.

There should be a regular commitment throughout the above periods of involvement averaging at least one hour a week.

Some examples of activities undertaken locally in the above sections are listed below.

SKILLS	PHYSICAL RECREATION	SERVICE
Pottery Sign Language Fly Tying/Fishing Calligraphy Computing Dressmaking Needlecraft Horse Handling Chess Musical Instrument Car Mechanics Learn to Drive Drama Cooking Refereeing Young Enterprise Radio Presenting Model Making Shooting Crofting Singing Coastal Navigation Soft Furnishings	Basketball Golf Shinty Gymnastics Football Dancing Badminton Rugby Bowls Canoeing Sailing Hockey Karate Athletics Horse Riding Archery Swimming Keep Fit Yoga	Youth Clubs/Organisations ENABLE Swimming PHAB Club Cat Protection League Hospital T-Bar First Aid Course Radio Ranol Coastguards Church Creche Fire Service (Stornoway Airport) Charity Shops ME Association Ardseilach Centre Alzheimers Scotland Assist Sports Coaching Pointers Cafe Old Folks Homes Pool Lifeguard Course Nursery Police Service

The expedition/exploration section requires participants to plan, prepare for and undertake a 2, 3 or 4 day venture. This can be on foot, on a bike, on a horse, in a canoe or sailing.

Level	Foot Expeditions	Clycling/Horse Riding/ Canoeing/Rowing Expeditions	Sailing Expeditions	Explorations (all modes of travel)
Bronze	24 km/ 15miles	At least 4 hours of journeying a day	12 hours over the 2 days	At least 5 hours journeying
Silver	48 km/ 30 miles	At least 5 hours of journeying a day	21 hours over the 3 days	At least 10 hours journeying
Gold	80 km/ 50 miles	At least 6 hours of journeying a day	32 hours over the 4 days	At least 10 hours journeying

The Award has been active in the Western Isles for many years. The Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar Award Officer from 1976 to 1998 was Mr Norman MacLean. Mr Bill Houston took on the role of Award Officer from 1998 to the present. Mr Norman MacLean was instrumental, along with Mr Neil Galbraith, Mr George Moody, Mr Ediie MacKenzie and Head Office in Edinburgh and Windsor in launching the Western Isles Duke of Edinburgh's Award Project. The project was set up with a remit to promote and support the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the Western Isles to young people and adults. When it was launched in 1993 there were 36 young people actively involved in the Award in 7 groups (all but one were uniformed organisations) in Stornoway. The Western Isles Duke of Edinburgh's Award Project employed a Development Officer in 1993 and today there are about 250 young people involved in the Award in 13 groups from the Butt to Barra.

The WIDEA Development Officers post was assimilated into the Community Education Service of Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar in May 1999. All of the Community Education Service staff are involved in the Award in their own areas. They support a large number of volunteer helpers in the community. Adults help out in many ways including by meeting with young people on a regular basis for support and advice, teaching young people skills and sports, assisting young people with their voluntary work and by teaching young people skills required to undertake their expeditions. They also supervise young people on their expeditions.

Recent expeditions have taken us round Point, Ness-Barvas, Ness-Tolsta, Brenish-Valtos, Urgha-Hushinish, Gisla-Meavaig, Otternish-Balivanich, Ludag to Creagorry, Lionacleit to Rossinish and to the remote island of Taransay, of "Castaway" fame. In the Summer of 2000 we also participated in a 7 day and 10 day sailing venture on the Hartlepool Renaissance, a 72 ` Robert Clark ketch. The 10 day leg sailed from Hartlepool to Stornoway, via the Caledonian Canal. The 7 day venture sailed from Stornoway down the West Coast to Largs.

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PARTICIPANTS ACCOUNTS

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I got involved in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award through the Nicolson Institute Group when I was 14. I have achieved both Bronze and Silver Awards and I am actively working towards getting my Gold. It has been an enjoyable experience. It will help me later in life, especially when going for jobs. I have gained many memorable experiences. I recommend the Award to my friends and some have said that they wished they had got involved. The Award helps you make many new friends, young and old.

CAILEAN MACLEOD

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I heard about the Duke of Edinburgh's Award through friends in school that were already involved in it when I was 14 years old. To be honest I still haven't completed my Bronze Award, but I'm almost there! For my expedition I took part in a very tiring trek along the coast from Ness to Barvas. I did Line Dancing for my Physical, the hospital Tea Bar for my service (sorry to those who got short-changed), and right now I'm learning to drive for my skill. I've really enjoyed what I've done so far, it's been an excellent laugh and I've also made new friends. The best thing is that you do things at your own pace - I might be taking advantage of that a little! My most memorable experience would have to be when we were gutting fish on our expedition. It was disgusting and they stank! We bumped into some people who had been out fishing and they thought it would be nice to leave us some mackerel and so we gutted them, without a knife!! I would definitely encourage other young people to join. It gives you the opportunity to meet new people and to work individually as well as in groups. You learn new things that could be useful to you later in life. Not only that, but I'd say it boosts your confidence.

KAY MACLEOD

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I first heard about the Duke of Edinburgh's Award when I was 15 when my friend got a leaflet through her door. It was a few years ago now. The leaflet advertised a meeting in the Lecture Theatre at School, which we both went to and I got involved from then on. I am now 18 and I will be finished my Silver Award soon. I have done many activities like getting involved with the Cat Protection League and being a young leader at Rainbow Guides. I also did drama. For Silver I started Sign Language but changed it to Young Enterprise. For my sport I have done Football and Karate.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, especially the expeditions. Summer just won't be the same without the yearly walks. I have also enjoyed learning new skills and meeting new people.

My most memorable experience will be walking the 30 mile expedition. So much happened including meeting the former Scotland Rugby Captain, Gavin Hastings in Rhenigadale and getting his autograph. Midges and tired legs will also be remembered for a long time. I had been to Uist before but it was definitely a new experience to walk so much of it. It was also the longest I'd ever camped out for.

I would definitely encourage others to do the Duke of Edinburgh's Award because it is a great way to meet new people and to face new challenges. There is a wide range of activities to choose from which are bound to take your fancy. I have never been sorry that I took part in the award and I would actively encourage everyone to take part. It is a really good laugh.

LYNETTE WEMYSS

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I heard about the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in School but it didn't really interest me until my friends decided that they would like to get involved. So far I have helped out at a children's nursery and I am doing Calligraphy for my skill. I am finding it hard and I would enjoy it more if I was good at it. I am looking forward to starting Basketball in the next couple of weeks. I was dreading the expedition training over in Uig but it turned out to be great fun. I am looking forward to the full expedition in the Summer. I would definitely encourage others to get involved with the Award as you learn a lot, make new friends and you have loads of fun. I have certainly enjoyed myself.

SARAH FRANCE

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If you would like to get involved in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award then contact (situation vacant) on 01851 709454 or any of the other Community Education Staff.