Last week saw Kings College School in Wimbledon host Merton’s annual presentation evening for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards.

The Deputy Mayor of Merton, Councillor Corrina Edge presented young people from all over the Borough with their certificates and badges, earned by completing their Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards.

This year there were over 70 awardees, with each participant taking part in a wide variety of activities for their honour, ranging from photography to drama, helping at brownies, learning musical instruments and life saving, to archery, fencing, volleyball and Lion dancing. Expeditions have included trips to the North and South Downs, Ashdown Forest, Dartmoor, the Isle of Wight, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and even to Borneo. For the Gold participants, residential courses have also taken place at the National Trust, environmental projects, a cookery course and working at a charity project in India. A taste of some of these activities was reflected in the evening’s displays and presentations which was hosted by two young people Carlie Menditta and Leila Clemo.

Stephen Alambritis, Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Economic Development explained “These young people have shown great commitment and effort in completing their awards, whether at bronze, silver or gold level. The award gives the opportunity for Merton’s young people to learn, grow and develop through their activities and actions. They have all achieved a great deal from taking part in the award and I congratulate them all.”

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Note to editors

Pictures attached: Some of the winners enjoy their success. The girls in the photo are (l to r)) Luisa Aldridge, Rebecca Fisher, Margaret Bennet, Serena Brotherton and Lizzie Challis. All D of E participants have parental consent for the use of photos.

The Award is a national voluntary programme for all young people aged 14-25 years. Run by Merton Youth Service, 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. Each level of the Award requires completion of four sections – Service, Skills, Expedition and Physical Recreation (with a fifth section, a Residential Project, for Gold participants). There are currently approximately 1000 young people taking part in the award in Merton.

For more information please 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 email d