EVERYONE HAS A PART TO PLAY


Peter Westgarth Chief Executive of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award A couple of issues ago I used this space to highlight the role of


our Trustees and welcome a couple of new Trustees to the team. This issue I am delighted to welcome John Amaechi (pictured below) to the DofE’s Trustee Board.


speaker at our staff conference last September and blew everyone away with his personal story.


J


John joins us at a great moment of opportunity for DofE. More teachers and others are volunteering to lead activities for the growing number of young people wanting to do their DofE. We have new resources to support those least able to support themselves because of the generosity of those of you who did your Diamond Challenge. Great ideas for the use of those funds are already coming forward in applications to our new #iwill DofE Diamond fund – see page 6. I received a letter today from Angie


Burrows, Teacher and DofE Manager at Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Sports College in Burton upon Trent. Angie wrote to thank us for a couple of free places we were able to supply. She said


“I always mention that students should speak to me if they really want to do their DofE but feel that their family circumstances may prevent them from doing so. This is the first time any student (let alone two) have ever come forward. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the process of applying for free places was. I have been running the DofE for 22 years and this is the first time I’ve ever applied.” We were delighted to be able to assist Angie and I really appreciated her thank you note. I’ve heard many great stories of the DofE achievements of disabled youngsters over the years – from the revelation of volunteering to help others rather than being helped themselves, through to amazing expedition achievements. We are turning our attention to how we do more to make the DofE accessible to disabled young people who wouldn’t see immediately that the DofE is available to them. If you have ideas and experience we’d like you to share it


DofE Magazine Issue 29: SPRING 2018


ohn is an impressive character, particularly his infectious enthusiasm for everything that he does. I am so pleased that John has agreed to add DofE to his enthusiasms! Catch up with John at amaechiperformance.com. He was a keynote


with us and now would be a good time to drop me a line with your thoughts and/or talk to your Regional/Country team about an application to the DofE Diamond fund for a project.


Royal record-breaker


Many of you will have enjoyed taking part in our Royal Tour last year, meeting HRH The Earl of Wessex as he visited your area. He dedicated his year to the DofE, meeting thousands of you to thank, congratulate and encourage your great work with young people. He has agreed to continue visiting DofE activities this year, coupled with his own record-breaking plans to play every Real Tennis court in the world – in the year!


His Royal Highness has also agreed to ensure we maintain the promise for every Gold Award achiever to have their Award presented at a Royal Palace. An extraordinary commitment in an already over-committed schedule. I want to take this


opportunity to thank him on your behalf. Sir, thank you!


Tell us about it And, to the growing number of teachers and volunteers giving their time to lead DofE activity, we are interested to hear your stories of the impact the DofE has had on you. We hear of Leaders building new and effective working relationships with pupils through supporting their extra- curricular activity. Also of the positive impact DofE can have on a teacher’s CV as more headteachers look for that wider commitment from their staff and look to recruit staff with DofE experience. I’m keen to hear from heads and teachers about what they think makes a great DofE Manager? We want to build a DofE Manager development programme that not only adds value to DofE delivery but also adds value to the professional qualifications of the individual DofE Managers. What do you think we should include in the course? To respond to any aspect of this article please write to: chiefexecutive@DofE.org.


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