Duke of Edinburgh International Award at WSQ

INTRODUCTION:  

‘Continuing a Legacy’ - “Prince Philip was a champion of the infinite potential of young people and a pioneer in non-formal education and learning.” (quote from the intaward.org website)

This amazing and prestigious Award has been on offer in schools in the UK since 1956 and is now expanded to 144 nations across the globe.  It recognises and celebrates young people’s achievements outside of academia by encouraging them to learn new skills, get physically active, volunteer within their communities and discover a real sense of adventure.

“Young people – with their dynamism, their energy and their inherent understanding of our interconnected world – have much to teach us.”  Kofi Annan 2013

We feel at WSQ that individuals undertaking the challenges of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award (DOEIA) have opportunities to improve their resilience, confidence and communication skills.  Stepping outside their personal comfort zone, exploring new ways of doing things, being calm, logical and creative when in potentially difficult circumstances and learning from both successes and mistakes is key to building these personal attributes.  This also ensures that individuals really strive to ‘be the best they can be’. 

THE AWARD FRAMEWORK:

The DOEIA is available for those between the ages of 14 and 24 years.

There are three levels of award: Bronze – 14+; Silver – 15+ and Gold – 16+.

Areas of participation: Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation, Skills, Adventurous Journey and Gold Residential Project.

Using this framework and with the support of adult volunteers, each individual is able to develop their own bespoke programme.  Participation and completing the Award is therefore a personal challenge, not a competitive one, pushing the individual to their own limits and providing them with the opportunity to surpass their own expectations regarding what they are capable of.

Each award requires more determination and perseverance than the previous.  Within each level participant’s must a) develop a new skill; b) participate in a regular physical activity; c) take part in regular voluntary work and d) complete an expedition in a team.  To achieve the Gold Award, the individual must additionally undertake a residential project.

Here at WSQ, we genuinely believe that undertaking at least one Award will provide our students with fantastic additional opportunities to develop their commitment, determination, drive and ability to evaluate a range of situations more accurately.  They will also be better equipped to understand the complex issues facing everyone in the modern world.