Alness Pupils Receive Duke Of Edinburgh's Award

Six Alness pupils today (Tuesday 21st June, 2005) received their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at a ceremony in Alness Academy.

Presenting the Awards to Amanda Blackburn, Kyle Gordon, Donald MacCulloch, Lewis Sinclair, Darren Stewart and Michael Ewan - Liz Whiteford, Award Officer for Ross and Cromarty said: "I am absolutely delighted to personally acknowledge the efforts of these young people.  All have taken up the challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and through their activities have hopefully discovered the satisfaction of personal achievement and helping others."

As part of the skills and service sections of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the Alness pupils set up and ran a gift production company called ‘Beez Kneez’. They made, and sold a variety of greetings cards, key rings and fridge magnets over a seven-month period and ran a successful campaign called “Helping Harry” donating their business income to local boy, Harry Beattie who has cerebral palsy, to help pay for the cost of a specialist car seat.

For the physical section of the award the group learned how to play basketball and for their expeditions they went to ‘The Craigs’ Ardgay in Sutherland to Inchlumpie near Ardross going through Glencalvie Estate and from Black Bridge on the Ullapool road to Glencalvie Lodge, going through Strathvaich and Alladale Estates.

In completing their Bronze Awards, the Alness pupils are the second group of pupils at Alness Academy who have been working on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award through the Highland New Opportunities Fund Activities Programme, which was created to enable more young people to gain access to the Award scheme.

Isobel Gray, Development Officer for the Ross and Cromarty Duke of Edinburgh’s Award said: “They all gained confidence and developed personal skills that they may not have otherwise done by working on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the experience has given them an understanding of the needs of others and the importance of being able to interact with their fellow peers to achieve their aims. I am very proud of their achievements and wish them well for the future.”

The Highland New Opportunities Fund Activities Programme extends the reach of the Award to young people who are not normally aware of the challenge that the Award can offer them. The funding enables part-time staff to work directly with the young people and guide them in the early stages of their Award.

At present there are over 3000 participants between the ages of 14 -25 enrolled with The Highland Council for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.