Over 1,200 young people packed into Holyroodhouse over four award ceremonies
A record 1,253 young people achieved their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) gold award this year.
The number was so high awards ceremonies had to be held over two days at the Palace of Holyroodhouse last week.
Celebrities from the world of television, music, radio and sport joined representatives from the Scottish Government and the royal family on 2 and 3 July to celebrate the achievements of the talented young people and present them with their certificates.
HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, attended on the first day with HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, attending on the second day to watch as presenters, including Glasgow band Fatherson, comedian Des Clarke, and acting minister for children and young people Fiona McLeod MSP, made the presentations to the worthy recipients.
To achieve their gold award some of the young people had previously completed their bronze and silver awards, while others spent 18 months solely completing their gold.
Spot yourself in our gallery of pictures from the ceremonies
Visit TFN's Facebook page to see if you can spot yourself or a friend or family member and tag and share your picture. All photographs courtesy of the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards.
With more and more young people achieving a gold award each year, it is a real tribute to the dedication and determination of Scotland’s young people
To achieve gold status every one of them had to complete five sections. These included undertaking voluntary work; improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities; developing practical and social skills and personal interests; planning, training for and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad; and staying and working away from home doing a shared activity.
Barry Fisher, director for DofE Scotland, said of the ceremonies: “Each DofE award is a personal development programme and all of the young people here have met their own personal goals in order to be here.
“With more and more young people achieving a gold award each year, it is a real tribute to the dedication and determination of Scotland’s young people.”
Sara Salloum, 18, from Aberdeen, worked for over a year with additional support needs groups as part of her volunteering section.
“It was fantastic volunteering with the Saturday Fun Club at Hazelwood School for additional support needs children,” she said.
“As I volunteered at Hazlewood through bronze and gold DofE I built up a good relationship with some of the children I saw each week.
“It’s been really valuable to do my gold award. For the skills section I did guitar and I’m going to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester to study classical guitar and to do it as a career.”
Fiona McLeod added: “The aspirations behind the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme fit well with key priorities for this Scottish Government, of participation, prosperity and fairness.
“Real participation means giving people opportunity to test themselves, to take responsibility, to make decisions, to solve issues for themselves and in their communities. These Awards clearly embody this approach. Well done to those who received an award, and their families, for all their hard work and support.”
Further information about the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award can be found at DofE.org.
