Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants strengthen links to Ponteland as they give 1716 volunteering hours at various establishment in and around the Ponteland Area. There were 176 students across all 3 awards at Ponteland High School doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award this year the largest number of students to date. Ponteland High School in Ponteland is delighted to share the impact that The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) participants have made locally through the Volunteering section of their DofE.
Young people have worked in charity shops, Sports teams, litter picking in their local community and farms helping them to support their local communities and to learn new skills for their future.
Participants doing their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) Award at Ponteland High School are being celebrated for the amazing impact they have had on the local community.
Andy Allman, DofE Manager from Ponteland High School said: The number of students doing the DofE across all levels of the Award are increasing year on yearand with that in mind the 1716 is only going to increase the number of volunteering hours the students are going to do over the coming year.
In May, the DofE announced that a record-breaking 342,000 young people had started a DofE programme in 2024-25 – the highest since the charity was founded almost 70 years ago. During the same period, participants have contributed an astonishing 5.2 million hours of volunteering in communities all over the UK – with an estimated total value of £33.4 million.
Changing lives and communities for the better Ruth Marvel OBE, CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to see the impact that young people at Ponteland High School have made through their DofE volunteering. Volunteering is a great way for young people to build confidence, develop work-related skills and use their passions and talents to benefit others. It changes lives and communities for the better – that’s why it’s an integral part of the DofE programme. We’re so proud of all the young people at Ponteland High School who have dedicated their time and energy to helping others in their communities.”
To do their DofE, young people aged 14-24 choose activities in four sections: improving a Physical and Skills activity, volunteering for a cause of their choice, and completing a demanding Expedition. Along the way they have fun, grow in resilience and self-belief, discover new talents and passions, and learn practical skills to help them in future – while working towards a highly respected.
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