HUNDREDS of young people flocked to Huddersfield Town Hall to be presented with Duke of Edinburgh awards.
More than 500 awards were presented by well known mountaineer Andy Cave, Huddersfield Town legend Andy Booth and Kirklees Mayor, Clr Eric Firth.
The DofE awards cover a programme of activities that can be undertaken by anyone aged 14 to 24, regardless of personal ability. They can on average take anywhere between one and four years to complete.
Kirklees DofE award manager, Denise Bedford, said: “In Kirklees, Duke of Edinburgh award participation continues to grow among all age groups, but in particular those 16 plus.
“Numbers of young people eager to become involved in the award have increased above what schools and colleges can accommodate.
“This has led to an increase in attendance at the five DofE open award centres which operate on an evening.
“In 2011 over 100 different groups of young people from Kirklees embarked on expeditions both in this country and abroad.
“These involved groups of about seven planning, preparing and going on an unaccompanied journey in the countryside.
“While the majority of these were on foot, groups using bicycles and canoes are becoming ever more popular.
“One such gold paddle group hit the national headlines at Easter, after coming to the rescue of a family in trouble on the River Wye just above Monmouth.”
Overall, Kirklees welcomed 1,227 new participants into the award last year.
Young people achieve the award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections – five for the gold award – volunteering, physical, skills, expedition and for gold, a residential.
Denise added: “The developments in the Kirklees Duke of Edinburgh award over the last 12 months have been phenomenal and all of those involved should be commended for their dedication, vision and passion which have led to some truly inspirational initiatives allowing more opportunities for young people.”
