10/11/05 - Cllr Stoddart Presents Duke Of Edinburgh Awards

Cllr Peter Stoddart Presents Duke of Edinburgh's Awards

 
Up to 100 young people in Swindon will be presented with their Duke of Edinburgh's Award at the annual presentations at the University of Bath on November 12.

Young people aged between 14 to 25 years old who completed the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards will be presented with their certificates after completing various challenges.

Swindon Borough Council Youth and Play Service who organise the Duke of Edinburgh's Award will be hosting the event and have invited young people from groups that include St Joseph's, Kingsdown, Headlands and Ridgeway schools as well as the Open Award Centre and the Rowdy Bunch youth club.

Deputy Mayor of Swindon, Cllr Peter Stoddart (Conservative, Abbey Meads),  Swindon athlete, Matthew O'Dowd and Swindon Town footballers, Rhys Evans and Michael Pook will make the presentations.

The Youth and Play Service relies on the commitment and dedication of 60 volunteers to enable young people to gain the skills and experiences involved in achieving an Award.

Swindon Borough Council Children Services Cabinet Member, Garry Perkins said:  "Swindon has 400 young people who are reaching out for these awards and by doing so gain worthwhile life skills. We are keen to develop the programme and plan to create two more open award centres next year."