The Duke of Edinburgh award is a qualification that young people can receive that helps them develop skills beyond the curriculum at school. It gives new confidence and builds resilience- which are key skills for when the time comes for interviews and later life. However, Kent Count Council has just cut funding for the scheme. This follows ongoing financial struggles and is part of a budgeting scheme in hopes of saving one million pounds.
Due to this many young people living in the Kent area will not be able to complete it- many schools cannot fund it themselves or have the resources. Consequently, they cannot complete the scheme and miss out on a brilliant opportunity. The Duke of Edinburgh award helps young people attain lots of new skills. As part of the Duke of Edinburgh award you complete a practice expedition, an assessed one and also take up a club/activity for an allocated time in three areas: physical, skills, and volunteering. The physical activity can be a sports club like football, athletics and cycling or fitness and martial arts. This helps people achieve goals and can also create a new hobby for the person completing which will help both their physical and mental health. The skills section is focused on other types such as a drama, playing an instrument or, if you are completing Gold even learning how to drive, which is a crucial skill in later life. The final section of the Duke of Edinburgh award is to volunteer in some way, which is a great way to get young people involved in helping their local community and helping those who are less fortunate. This could involve running bake sales, helping at animal shelters or signing up to a charity in your area. The expedition will teach you skills such as navigation, teamwork, and will build your confidence and perseverance levels. This is why the Duke of Edinburgh is such a great opportunity for young people.
Hopefully, most schools in the Kent area will continue to offer the chance to complete this award, giving their students a greater chance of succeeding. The duke of Edinburgh award is an amazing thing to put on your CV as it shows you have the ability to work in teams and cope in high pressure situations. When Kent County Council shut this down, they made it harder for young people to gain these skills which could be key to them later in life.
The removal of funding for the Duke of Edinburgh scheme will impact young people directly and will cut down opportunities that other young people have access to. In 2023, 330,984 young people took part in the scheme showing just how instrumental the scheme is. The council aims to save £988,000 and cutting funding for the Duke of Edinburgh is one of the ways to do this. But consequently, many young people in Kent miss out on a fantastic opportunity. This will mean that the young people of Kent will be at a disadvantage and will lack the chance to build confidence and skills.
