An enduring legacy – The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award will continue to transform young lives in Hertfordshire

The death of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh has sparked tributes from young people in Hertfordshire whose lives have been transformed by The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Since 2013 a total of 41,342 young people have enrolled in the scheme through Hertfordshire County Council with 19,072 achieving awards so far across the three levels - Bronze, Silver and Gold - through volunteering, physical activity, learning new skills, expeditions and residentials (at Gold level only). Participants have until they are aged 25 to complete the awards.

Paying tribute to the late HRH Prince Philip for turning their lives around, thanks to his popular awards are Avika Shah, Esther and Rebekah Green, Myah Richards and Matthew Hannah – who have all benefitted from achieving an Award.

Myah Richards, 21, from St Albans, who has cerebral palsy and spastic diplegia, said that achieving a Bronze Award three years ago was “life changing” in breaking the barriers of perception around her disability and gave her the confidence to enrol on a college course.

Myah, who also has Tourette’s Syndrome and visual impairment meaning she has no peripheral vision, completed her Bronze DofE programme while at Lonsdale School in Stevenage.

She said: “Because of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award I’m now on a mainstream college course, studying Health and Social Care and that’s all down to The DofE; it’s built up my confidence. Before that I was doing special needs courses, so it’s been life-changing and life enhancing.

“It gives you the ability, rather than looking at disability all the time, and helps you see what your capabilities are and what you can achieve in the future. You realise you’re an equal and it builds up your confidence to say to people “I’m disabled but I can do this”.

Jenny Coles, Director of Children’s Services at Hertfordshire County Council said: “The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been a part of Hertfordshire County Council’s contribution to enhancing the lives and life chances of our young people since the early 1970s.

“This fantastic legacy from the Duke of Edinburgh will continue to offer life-changing and inclusive opportunities to young people from diverse backgrounds, equipping them with independence, essential life skills, camaraderie and a chance to contribute to their communities.”

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