Caerphilly Awarded At Buckingham Palace

Caerphilly county borough council has been commemorated for its contribution to the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jared Lougher, Sport and Leisure Development Manager, attended Buckingham Palace on Monday 16th May to collect the award, on behalf of the Authority, at the Diamond Anniversary Gold Award Presentation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The award was presented to Jared by Caerphilly’s own, Matt Johnson, Television presenter. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Members of the Royal Family; HRH Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Earl of Wessex and HRH Countess of Wessex, congratulated those who were presented. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Peter Westgarth, Chief Executive of the DofE Charity said: “Through the DofE, Caerphilly Council is inspiring the success of its young people; equipping them with the attributes and skills to get a job and build strong relationships whilst opening up their worlds and introducing them to a broad range of interests. We are truly grateful to all of our Licensed Organisations for the work that they do, they are an integral part of the DofE family, and our Diamond Anniversary is a fantastic opportunity to say thank you.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The award has been delivered within the borough for 25 years, with around 150 young people achieving a DofE award, each year, after volunteering within their community, learning a new skill, getting fit, going on an expedition and for Gold, taking part in a week long residential. These various activities and expeditions are run by volunteer leaders ranging from Caerphilly Youth Workers, teachers, outdoor pursuit instructors and CAG volunteers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Doing a DofE significantly impacts young people’s futures, enabling them to develop vital skills for their future, such as teamwork, resilience, commitment and confidence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services said: “It is a privilege for the County to be acknowledged for this award. As a licensed DofE organisation we have had extensive participation with the Duke of Edinburgh Award and it is great to be recognised for it.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

According to the 2015 School Sport Survey conducted by Sport Wales, out of 116,000 Welsh school children, 47% of children in Caerphilly regularly participate in and enjoy sport three or more times a week, which has risen from 39% in 2013. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With the assistance and support from our volunteers Caerphilly managed to achieve the highest response rate from both Primary and Secondary schools out of the 22 Local Authorities. This totalled to over 10,000 responses from the overall 116,000 which Sport Wales received. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The survey also found that a staggering 79% of school pupils have taken part in sport at a club outside of their school in the last year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you are between the ages of 14-25 and interested in taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, you can contact the Caerphilly Adventures on 01495 221058 or email Richard Batten, DofE Officer, batter@caerphilly.gov.uk. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​