South Ayrshire Council News

Pupils at two South Ayrshire Council schools, Queen Margaret Academy in Ayr, and Carrick Academy in Maybole are taking part in an exciting Duke of Edinburgh Award pilot project, being co-ordinated by the Council’s Community Learning and Development section.

As part of the Council’s Curriculum for Excellence the project gives all third year pupils an opportunity to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award in their curriculum.

The 102 pupils from Queen Margaret and 65 pupils from Carrick Academy are being supported by a network of staff, senior pupils and parents as they progress through the sections of the Award.

During the autumn and winter months of 2007/08 the pupils have been taking part in challenging activities in their community. The opportunities ranged from volunteering to help in after school childcare clubs, youth clubs, libraries, charity shops, to receiving training in community sports leadership awards and an arts and museum programme at Rozelle House Galleries.

Speaking about the project Councillor Hywel Davies, the Council’s Portfolio Carrier for Learning and Prosperity said: “This exciting pilot project makes the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award easily accessible by the third year students. The wide range of sporting and volunteering opportunities that the pupils can join in will hopefully encourage more of them to get up and get active which will benefit their physical and mental health.

“The project gives pupils from all backgrounds a chance to work together, develop important new skills and put something back into their local community. The skills that they learn will be extremely useful to them in future years in their professional and personal lives.

“The pilot project has enabled the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to reach pupils of all abilities and particularly those who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to fulfil their potential, access career opportunities and increase their self-belief and confidence.”

Participants have been motivated by those delivering the Award to expand their knowledge and outlook on life with talks and training from experts on child protection, first aid, inclusion and disability awareness, to prepare them for various service and community volunteering opportunities. The pupils have also been taking part in sports coaching sessions in archery, skiing and snowboarding, with many accessing the extra curricular activities in their school, local youth clubs, activity centres and swimming pools.

Expedition training is now being undertaken with the help of outdoor experts, staff and parents and the pupils are enthusiastically practicing their camp craft skills and navigation in preparation for their expedition to the Galloway Hills in the spring.

Later this year there will be a Duke of Edinburgh Award ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the pupils who have attained award level.

Partnerships with many local organisations and Council departments have been formed to make the Award sustainable so that it can be developed in future years and continue to be linked with community organisations.

View Photographs