Latest news with #DukeofEdinburgh'sAwards
Scotsman
4 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Congratulations for Midlothian Duke of Edinburgh's Award winners
Midlothian Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Ellen Scott, has congratulated the more than 100 Midlothian young people who have completed the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards this year. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) is open to any young person aged 14-24 and is structured into three levels of award which increase in challenge and duration - Bronze, Silver, and Gold. During 2024/25, 18 young people received the Gold Award, 16 young people received the Silver Award and 75 young people received the Bronze Award. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They are divided into different aspects including Volunteering in the community; Physical – improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities; Skills – developing practical and social skills and personal interests and Expedition – planning and completing an adventurous trip nationally or abroad. Pictured are local young people who have achieved their Gold Award this year. At Gold level, participants must also complete an additional fifth Residential section, which involves staying and working away from home for five days, with involvement in a shared activity. Gold Award holders have the opportunity to receive their awards at either Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse. As part of Midlothian Council's provision of the DofE Award, its Communities, Lifelong Learning and Employability service (CLLE) delivers the programme free to all, with the expedition element often taking place either in the Pentlands or Fife. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad CLLE supports participants with resources, transport, food, clothing, footwear and expedition costs. Education Scotland recognised recently how CLLE's provision of the Duke of Edinburgh Award is helping to increase access to participating, including for young people with additional support needs. Ms Scott, said: 'Congratulations to all the young people who have achieved their Duke of Edinburgh's Awards this year. The programme equips participants with invaluable skills for life, from teamwork and resilience to leadership and confidence. "I'm proud of how our Communities, Lifelong Learning and Employability service is helping to increase participation by offering vital support to ensure every young person has the opportunity to take part.'
STV News
27-07-2025
- STV News
King's 1965 schoolboy Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition recreated by students
Students at the King's former school have recreated the 28-mile hike through the Cairngorms which he completed as a teenager for his silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Pupils at Gordonstoun School in Moray completed the four-day trek in June for their own Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, after discovering the log of the original 1965 expedition in the school archive. Seven students – five girls and two boys – retraced Charles's steps from Balachroich to Rothiemurchus Lodge, taking in Glenfeshie Forest and passing by Ben Macdui on the way up Glen Dee. Another team of seven completed the route in reverse. India Lewis, 16, was one of those taking part in the expedition, which saw the students spend three nights camping in the wilderness, navigating along the route and cooking their own food. 'To be, quite literally, retracing the footsteps of the King was so cool, and something we can always say we have done,' she said. 'I really enjoyed the challenge of it, especially on the second day. 'In the back of everyone's mind we remembered our motto, Plus Est En Vous, and we remembered that you have more in you. 'We do have more in us, because even at times when we thought we couldn't do it, we were still able to keep going and we all got there in the end.' Sixteen-year-old William Griffin, who also completed the route, said he had been struck by the diversity of the landscape it covered. 'We started off in dense woodland, going along the banks of a dried-up river that led out into a wide valley with thick heather,' he said. 'We then went through the mountains, into a massive open plain with the river meandering through it. It was so impressive.' Charles was 16 when he and four other pupils set out on the hike in October 1965, spending four days trekking through forests and mountains in winter weather, and ascending to heights of 850m. According to the written log, when the then-prince and his fellow students started out it was raining and there was a 'stormy wind', and the following day the weather was 'overcast' with showers and 'low mist'. Despite the conditions, Charles and the other four adventurers were said to be in 'good spirits'. Former Gordonstoun pupil Michael Fabianski, who completed the original expedition alongside Prince Charles, recalled the journey. 'My memory from the expedition was camping for the first night on the banks of the River Feshie and wading across the River Dee, whilst walking up Glen Dee to the Corrour Bothy, where we camped for the second night,' he said. 'It's very atmospheric walking up Glen Dee with Cairn Toul on one side and Ben Macdui on the other. 'I appreciated the steepness of the valley later when we scrambled up its side to Carn a' Mhaim during the Gold expedition in which I took part the following July.' Gordonstoun principal Peter Green said it was 'deeply encouraging' that the 'resilience and determination' shown by the King were continuing to inspire young people today. 'In the spirit of our founder, Kurt Hahn, I firmly believe that students must be regularly challenged to grow, both inside and outside the classroom,' he said. 'The recent expedition through the Cairngorms, retracing the footsteps of the King, was a powerful illustration of that philosophy in action. 'Spending four days camping in one of the most remote regions of the UK presented a genuine test of the students' resilience and teamwork, and they responded with remarkable perseverance and strength of character.' Gordonstoun is the birthplace of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, after Mr Hahn first set up a scheme in 1936 called the Moray Badge, which then evolved to become a national programme in 1956. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
27-07-2025
- Scotsman
King's 1965 schoolboy Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition recreated by students
Gordonstoun/PA Wire Charles was 16 when he and four other pupils set out on the hike in October 1965 Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Students at the King's former school have recreated the 28-mile hike through the Cairngorms which he completed as a teenager for his silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Pupils at Gordonstoun School in Moray completed the four-day trek in June for their own Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, after discovering the log of the original 1965 expedition in the school archive. Seven students – five girls and two boys – retraced Charles's steps from Balachroich to Rothiemurchus Lodge, taking in Glenfeshie Forest and passing by Ben Macdui on the way up Glen Dee. Another team of seven completed the route in reverse. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad India Lewis, 16, was one of those taking part in the expedition, which saw the students spend three nights camping in the wilderness, navigating along the route and cooking their own food. 'To be, quite literally, retracing the footsteps of the King was so cool, and something we can always say we have done,' she said. 'I really enjoyed the challenge of it, especially on the second day. Ryan Balharry/Gordonstoun/PA Wire 'In the back of everyone's mind we remembered our motto, Plus Est En Vous, and we remembered that you have more in you. 'We do have more in us, because even at times when we thought we couldn't do it, we were still able to keep going and we all got there in the end.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sixteen-year-old William Griffin, who also completed the route, said he had been struck by the diversity of the landscape it covered. 'We started off in dense woodland, going along the banks of a dried-up river that led out into a wide valley with thick heather,' he said. 'We then went through the mountains, into a massive open plain with the river meandering through it. It was so impressive.' Charles was 16 when he and four other pupils set out on the hike in October 1965, spending four days trekking through forests and mountains in winter weather, and ascending to heights of 850m. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad According to the written log, when the then-prince and his fellow students started out it was raining and there was a 'stormy wind', and the following day the weather was 'overcast' with showers and 'low mist'. Despite the conditions, Charles and the other four adventurers were said to be in 'good spirits'. Getty Images Former Gordonstoun pupil Michael Fabianski, who completed the original expedition alongside Prince Charles, recalled the journey. 'My memory from the expedition was camping for the first night on the banks of the River Feshie and wading across the River Dee, whilst walking up Glen Dee to the Corrour Bothy, where we camped for the second night,' he said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's very atmospheric walking up Glen Dee with Cairn Toul on one side and Ben Macdui on the other. I appreciated the steepness of the valley later when we scrambled up its side to Carn a' Mhaim during the Gold expedition in which I took part the following July.' Gordonstoun principal Peter Green said it was 'deeply encouraging' that the 'resilience and determination' shown by the King were continuing to inspire young people today. 'In the spirit of our founder, Kurt Hahn, I firmly believe that students must be regularly challenged to grow, both inside and outside the classroom,' he said. 'The recent expedition through the Cairngorms, retracing the footsteps of the King, was a powerful illustration of that philosophy in action. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Spending four days camping in one of the most remote regions of the UK presented a genuine test of the students' resilience and teamwork, and they responded with remarkable perseverance and strength of character.'
