Duke of Edinburgh

A fun adventure and major challenge, three progressive Award levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold) and a wide range of activities offer endless possibilities to anyone aged 14 to 24. Millions of young people in the UK have already taken part in the world’s leading youth achievement award – pushing personal boundaries, gaining new skills and enhancing their CVs and university applications.

Adventurous, caring, sporty, creative… however you might describe yourself, the DofE is for you.

Here at The Ridge Employability College we have ensured success in the programme each year.

Learners from The Ridge Employability College have completed their final expedition for their Gold Award. Well done #teamridge

More success at ‘The Ridge Employability College

The Ridge Employability College operates a very unique and very successful Duke of Edinburgh Award programme for its learners who all require additional needs. This year continued that success when 15 learners completed their Gold and Silver level awards. Congratulations to them all.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a worldwide personal development programme that is recognised and supported by employers. The Award consists of the following sections:

Volunteering
Skills/interests
Physical
Residential
Expeditions

The Award is a marathon and not a sprint taking a minimum of two years to be successful at Gold Level. Learners at the college have continued its success story by completing their final section despite the weather conditions. The final section was their expedition where they must travel in groups for up to 4 days and en route demonstrate their competence in the following areas:

Communication
Navigation
Camp craft
Teamwork
Leadership
And problem solving

Each learner who has completed their Gold level will be invited to either Buckingham Palace or Holyrood to be presented with their well-earned achievement. They will join 5 other learners who completed their Gold award in 2019 that due to Covid 19 restrictions are still waiting to attend their presentation.

The candidates’ who completed the Silver Award on this occasion are now aspiring to continue and follow in their peer’s footsteps and complete their Gold Award next year.

Please find following some of the personal thoughts about their expedition experience:

AH – ‘I enjoyed the experience of camping outside and cooking on the Trangia’.
JDA – ‘I like singing and dancing around the campfire, toasting marshmallows’.
LF – ‘I enjoyed becoming fitter’.
MB – ‘Enjoyed walking and exercising, working as a team. I liked helping and collecting wood for the fire.
SY – ‘Helped me to improve my communication, helped my confidence’.
SE – ‘Enjoyed seeing the different historical buildings and different nature’.
TB – ‘ Finding out the meaning of names of streets.
SS – ‘The Duke of Edinburgh Award has helped me to get out walking, love the scenery and countryside’.
BD – The hardest part was walking up the big hills, I achieved my gold award and I was so proud”
JA – I enjoyed it and liked going on different walks, I didn’t like the rain and we got very wet!
TG – My favourite part was walking through Bentley.
GB – I enjoyed walking through the RSPB reserve.

AR – The best bit was getting to the bus at the end. It was tiring.

These comments were shared by learners as part of the groups review. The impact of their efforts is highlighted in the diversity of how a meaningful expedition is different for each person despite them experiencing the same event.

The Award supports the work of the college to empower the learners, strengthen links with employers and support positive destinations for learners leaving the college.

Staff and volunteers at ‘The Ridge’ feel Prince Philip would be very proud of the group’s achievements.