Today His Royal Highness will visit and officially open the new DofE Open Award Centre at Hangleton Youth Centre based in Hove. He will then travel to Eastbourne to attend a business lunch at The Grand Hotel in aid of the East Sussex DofE Development Project. Throughout the visit His Royal Highness will be accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant for East Sussex, Mr Peter Field.
At Hangleton, The Earl of Wessex met Roger Simmons, DofE Officer for Brighton & Hove. He will be escorted on a tour of the centre to see how the DofE works in practice, and how the new facility has enabled the DofE in Brighton & Hove to enhance its work with young people with special educational needs (SEN), currently making up 20% of the City’s DofE participants.
Activities on show will include a Makaton sign language session with an SEN group from Downs View Link College, and a demonstration of cookery skills by DofE participants from Hamilton Lodge School for the deaf. Outside, a group of mixed ability award participants will show off their camp-craft skills, while coaches from Brighton & Hove Albion FC run a football training session with members of the club’s SEN group currently working towards their DofE.
His Royal Highness will also have a chance to meet Bronze and Silver participants trying out the DofE’s new online expedition training package, and a group of mixed ability gold award holders talking about their experiences on their expedition to the Cevennes national park in France.
Before leaving, His Royal Highness will unveil a plaque to officially open the centre. He will then travel to Eastbourne to attend a business lunch at the Grand Hotel in aid of the East Sussex DofE Development Project.
The Development Project in East Sussex is supported by DofE South East Region and East Sussex County Council, as the Operating Authority for the DofE Award in the region. At the lunch, sponsored by Elite Hotels Ltd, His Royal Highness will meet representatives from the newest DofE group in the county, Eastbourne and Wealden YMCA, including two participants who completed the DofE gold residential section during a three week visit to KwaZulu Natal in South Africa.
He will also be introduced to the Managing Director, Graeme Bateman, and the General Manager of the Grand Hotel, Jonathan Webley, by the DofE Development Officer for East Sussex, George Collier.
Following the lunch, there will be a presentation by the ‘DofE Award in Business’ project – a national initiative of the DofE award scheme, set up to explore the opportunities for commercial partnerships.
George Collier said: “It’s terrific that The Earl of Wessex has taken this opportunity to see how DofE is working in Sussex, both in terms of its facilities for young people and the invaluable support that can be provided through partnerships with local businesses.
“Roger Simmons and I are delighted that the projects in Brighton & Hove and in East Sussex have been honoured by the visit of His Royal Highness.”
About the DofE in East Sussex
As a DofE designated ‘Operating Authority’, East Sussex County Council co-ordinates and supports DofE programmes across the county. It maintains the DofE principles and standards, and authorises awards.
East Sussex has a network of fifty DofE centres – including schools, youth centres and voluntary organisations – that help young people get started on the programme. DofE centres offer opportunities and support to young people in the different activities and interests that can contribute to achieving an award – such as music, sports, dance, and getting involved in community projects. Currently there are approximately 2,000 young people taking part in the DofE programme in East Sussex at one of the three levels – bronze, silver and gold.
To find your nearest DofE Centre visit our Young people's section or contact DofE Development Officer George Collier – phone: 01323 418142 or email: gcollier@edma.org.uk.
Further information
The DofE Award was founded in 1956 by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Its mission is to inspire, guide and support young people in their self-development and recognise their achievements.
The Duke of Edinburgh remains the patron and HRH The Earl of Wessex is a trustee. He has been committed to the work of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme ever since he achieved his gold award in 1986, and was invited to join the Board of Trustees in 1988. Since that time he has been actively involved in the award programme in a number of capacities, especially fund raising.
Anyone aged between 14 and 24 can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, lead to a bronze, silver or gold DofE award. Young people will achieve a DofE award if they show persistence, commitment and personal development over a period of time. Achieving a gold award takes a minimum of 18 months.
DofE is the world’s leading achievement award for young people, recognised by employers and universities alike.
Last year, over 275,000 young people were taking part in DofE programmes in the UK. Over 30,000 of these young people were from disadvantaged backgrounds. Over 50,000 adult volunteers from all walks of life help to run DofE programmes. Through the volunteering part of the programme, young people give their free time to society with a value of over £13.5million per year.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a Registered Charity No. 1072490 and a Royal Charter Corporation No. RC 000806
Further information can be found on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award website.
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2335
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East Sussex County Council