Duke of Edinburgh’s Annual Awards Evening

Fifty young people who achieved their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award were honoured at the annual awards ceremony
in Merton’s Civic Centre.

The Mayor of Merton, Stuart Pickover presented young people from the borough with their certificates and badges, earned by completing their awards.

Administered by Merton’s Youth Service, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme currently involves some 1000 young people.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a voluntary programme for all young people aged 14-25 years. It provides the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of leisure activities and skills culminating in the achievement of a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.

The fifty awardees had undertaken a wide variety of activities, ranging from first aid to environmental work, playing musical instruments and cake decorating, as well as sports such as sailing, archery, football and training as a ball girl for the All England Tennis Championships. The participants have also achieved expeditions to the North and South Downs, the Lake District and as far a field as Pakistan and the Arctic

Eli Anderson, Head of Merton’s Youth Service, said: ‘This represents a wonderful achievement on the part of the young people in Merton and shows that there are some fun and positive activities taking place in the borough.’

To find out more about the award scheme and how to get involved contact: Carol Curtis, Borough Award Co-ordinator, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Youth Office, The Pavilion, Farm Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 6RA. Tel: 020 8648 1786