A Pendle teenager has become the thousandth young Lancastrian to complete the challenging Duke of Edinburgh programme in the past year.
Jack Coyne, from Colne collected his silver award on Monday from County Coun. Matthew Tomlinson, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for children, young people and schools.
The Duke of Edinburgh programme, coordinated by the county council’s Young People’s Service, involves volunteering, learning a new skill, tackling a physical activity and taking part in an expedition.
Jack, collecting the thousandth award, said: “Being involved in this award has allowed me to experience things I wouldn’t normally do. For my volunteering, I helped out at the Marie Curie charity shop in Burnley which gave me more confidence.
“For my skill section I wanted to learn more about acting and landed a lead role in ‘Half a Sixpence’ at Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre. By pushing myself, I have developed my personal and social skills and made loads of new friends.”
Speaking at the awards ceremony, County Coun. Tomlinson said: “What an amazing testament to the Duke of Edinburgh awards programme this is.
“For 1,000 young people from Lancashire to have completed such a challenging set of demands is a huge credit to them and colleagues from the Young People’s Service who have supported them.
“Not only do they have to plan, train for and carry out a physically demanding expedition, but they must also volunteer in their community, learn a skill and do a physical activity.
“And the really good news is that the programme here in Lancashire is continuing to go from strength to strength. The DofE provides young people with life-enriching opportunities such as learning to work as part of a team which help them face the challenges of moving into adulthood.
“I would like to congratulate Jack for officially being Lancashire’s thousandth young person to receive their DoE award in the past year. He is a superb role model for future generations of young people who are thinking of going in for the award.”
More information on the DoE awards programme is available on the county council’s website at www.yps.lancashire.gov.uk
