Scottish Conservatives’ Rachael Hamilton has highlighted the vital contribution of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to young people’s lives.
With the death of HRH Prince Philip on Friday, the nation remembers his life and work in 8 days of national mourning.
His Royal Highness founded The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in 1956 and since then young people from every background, across Scotland have been taking part in the Award.
For many young people in Borders and across Scotland, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been a huge part of their path to adulthood.
In Scotland, in 2019/20 alone, 20,159 young people started their award and 11,419 achieved an award. Young people volunteered a total of 362,695 hours in non-profit community activity, offering an estimated financial equivalent of £1,577,723. There are now over 860 active DofE Centres from over 125 Licensed Organisations.
Annually, many Borders’ young people were invited to the Palace of Holyroodhouse to receive their Gold award from HRH Prince Philip.
Rachael Hamilton believes the award ‘inspired’ many thousands of Borders’ young people to give back to their communities and gave them vital life skills to carry into adulthood.
Rachael Hamilton said:
“With the sad loss of HRH Prince Philip, it is fitting we remember the enormous contribution that his Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has made to British society and internationally.
“The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has inspired and encouraged young people to help in their communities and to push themselves to achieve greater things.
“In the Borders, whether it was completing hikes over the Cheviot Hills or volunteering in local charities, many young people gained a great deal from completing the awards.
“The success of the award internationally is testament to the Prince’s love of the outdoors and tremendous sense of duty.
“I have great confidence that the award will continue to go from strength to strength, and will serve as a wonderful legacy to his life”.