WESTERN ISLES DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD

Transcription

1 WESTERN ISLES DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD ANNUAL REPORT 2014

2 Chairman s Report Yet another successful year for the Western Isles Duke of Edinburgh s Award Committee. The report highlights the detail of this success however I would like to extend sincere gratitude and congratulations to all our Volunteers, Young People, Norman Macleod DofE Development Worker, partner agencies and the Local Authority CneS who collectively make everything possible. We welcomed Isi Oakley to the fold as our new Outdoor Manager supporting the Award and she has delivered an excellent training programme in the short time she has been with us. The Award has now been extended to Uist and Barra with Leaders and Volunteers being trained to the same standard in both areas, a significant accomplishment. All secondary 3 pupils have the choice to undertake the Award in Uist through Sgoil Lionacleit and open groups while Barra have the Award open to all to participate. We have continued to support our Volunteers with the overnight in Scaladale and will continue to offer such support. We now go into the next year very excited about a Royal Visit from HRH Duke and Duchess of Wessex which will be a momentous day for Adults and Young people involved in the Award. Finally I would like to wish all our participants and volunteers every success for their Award year ahead supporting and encouraging our young people to develop.

3 WESTERN ISLES DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2014 SUMMARY This year over 280 young people are taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards at one of three levels through Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (CneS). CneS is the Operating Authority for the Award and is responsible for all aspects of administration while providing assistance and support to groups and individuals. The statistics of Award holders for the year 2013/2014 is as follows: 1 STATUS OF GROUPS Female Male Total Air Cadets Group First Steps Group Greater Broadbay Group Harris Open Group Include Us Group Lifeskills Group (Nic Inst) Ness Open Group Nicolson Institute S4 Group Nicolson Institute S5 Group Nicolson Institute S6 Group Pointers Group 3-3 Rural Skills (Nic. Inst) Sgoil Lionaclete Group Stornoway Open Group Uist Open Group WI Explorer Scouts Group Westside Open Group TOTALS FINANCIAL REPORT (Appendix 1)

4 3. EXPEDITIONS 2013 Summer 2013 was a very successful season for expeditions with a total of 5 bronze, 8 Silver and 1 Gold, actual and practice expeditions taking place in the Western Isles. Expeditions were undertaken by several groups including: Stornoway Open, Nicolson Institute, Harris Open, Westside Open and Broadbay Open Groups. Leader Training This year has seen in-house accreditations being refreshed for all active leaders that had required to. This will now take a minor part only in next year s training programme, freeing up time to work on training new volunteers and also to complete assessor training. The following courses were completed by volunteers: Common Training Syllabus 4 Hillwalking & Camping Accreditation 8 Hillwalking & Camping Refresher 12 D of E Assessor Training Course 12 D of E Assessor Supported Assessment 3 Scaladale Day A day of bringing lots of volunteers together to refresh/ update/ up-skill was extremely valuable this year, and would be beneficial to do again. This would make available the half-day courses listed above, workshops on topics of leaders choice, refreshers of in-house accreditations. More importantly though, a chance to network and feel valued which is so important in keeping our volunteers. First Aid It is hoped to run First Aid Remote Expedition training early next year. It s a hot topic at the moment with the changes in monitoring of provision. Dates will be confirmed with both a 1 and 2 day first aid option being made available. 4. EQUIPMENT The equipment supply continues to increase. 90% of Open Groups are now fully equipped with banks of equipment for expeditions. Barra being the newest established Award Open Group are currently applying for funding for expedition equipment. With thanks to CneS Community Learning and Development Department all volunteers have now been equipped with Water proof jackets, trousers, fleece jackets and a financial contribution of 50 toward the purchase of walking shoes or boots per volunteer.

5 5. GOLD AWARD PRESENTATION The Gold Award Presentation took place in July 2013 at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh. Attending this presentation was Alasdair Summers of the Harris Open Group who was presented with his Gold Award. 6. ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY The Award Presentation Ceremony was held in the Town Hall in November Over 60 young people were presented with their Duke of Edinburgh s Award; 36 full awards and 65 sectional Award certificates were awarded which is a significant achievement. Young people showcased their involvement in the various sections of the Award through presentations, talks, singing and an overall DofE experience from a Gold Award participant. The Presentation Ceremony was extremely well attended by young people, supporting volunteers, organisations, parents and friends. The ceremony s focus was on what the young people had achieved for their different sections of their Award.

6 7. ANGUS CLINTON MEMORIAL AWARD The Angus Clinton Memorial Award continues to be presented to Volunteers on an annual basis in recognition of their contribution in supporting young people achieve their Awards. This year the Angus Clinton Memorial Award goes to Catherine Anne Campbell who supports the Westside Open Group. The Award was presented by Convenor Norman Macdonald 8. COMMUNITY LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICE The CLD Service have developed various activities through the Nicolson Institute school inspiring young people to take up the challenge of the Award. Last year CLD accredited 12 young people in the Secondary 3 Rural Skills class after completing three sections of their Award and 9 for completing two sections through the employability Life skills group. Facebook continues to be used as a communication tool between young people, volunteers and groups proving to be very successful. In partnership with the WIDEA committee training priorities were identified for the year ahead. Training was delivered in all five Learning Community Areas including schools and staff where the need was identified. Courses included Introduction to DofE, Managing a Group, edofe and all those completing these courses had a precursor of completing the einduction. This has been very successful to date and the

7 CLD service expect all staff and volunteers to have completed the einduction and Introduction to DofE by June It is imperative that Volunteers and partner agencies engage in the training programme in order for the Award to continue to develop and be delivered to a high standard. 9. LEADER FUNDING - TRAINING & LEARNING PROGRAMME The DofE Training & Learning Programme has concluded. Over the last two years WIDEA endured an inspiring achievement including; varying training programmes across the Western Isles for Leaders, Volunteers and Young People. Purchasing and equally distributing equipment for open groups as well as increased attendances at conferences and festivals related to DofE development which otherwise, without LEADER funding would not have been realised. 10. HI-FIRES Harris Open Group undertook the Hi-Fires programme from December March 2014 and received their Skill Section of their Bronze Award. The training programme is run through Highlands & Islands Fire and Rescue Service and is supported by Community Learning & Development Section of CneS. 11. WIDEA Development Work Boys Work The Development Worker has continued to provide support to the Include-Us Group of boys who participate in the Award at both Bronze and Silver level. To date the group have completed their physical section and young enterprise as their Skills section for the Award. Volunteers Training Weekend The Annual Volunteers Training Weekend took place in April This opportunity for Volunteers to meet and discuss opportunities, developments and training continues to be well attended. Volunteers from Lewis, Harris, Uist & Barra attended a full day training session in Scaladale Centre. The training covered Micro navigation, map reading skills, river crossings and a session on route cards. 12. RECOMMENDATIONS To provide an opportunity for young people to be represented on the WIDEA Board To ensure Volunteers weekend continues in Feb/March annually To continue to support the delivery of the Award through schools and Open Groups To continue to develop training for volunteers and partner agencies.

8 APPENDIX 1 FINANCIAL REPORT

9 Scottish Charity Number SCO21492