Dame Rebecca Harris MP is today celebrating the commitment and dedication of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) Award participants throughout Castle Point as 97 set themselves the personal challenge of achieving a DofE Award.

2 young people started their Gold Award, 18 started Silver and 77 started their Bronze DofE Award between April 2024 and March 2025.

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 Award.

Thanks to its incredible network of organisations delivering the DofE, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the largest facilitator of youth volunteering in the UK. Over the last four years, the DofE charity has focused its work on breaking down barriers and opening up access to all young people, with the support of its funders and partners – working with more community organisations, schools in deprived areas, further education colleges, prisons, and centres supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities. 

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.

Dame Rebecca Harris MP said: “The DofE provides a hugely beneficial and unique opportunity for young people, helping them to develop skills, confidence and learn to overcome adversity – setting them up to succeed later in life.

“It is fantastic to hear that 97 individuals from Castle Point have taken on this challenge in the past year and I wish them all the best in attaining their DofE award!”

Ruth Marvel OBE, CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that 97 young people started a DofE Award in Castle Point, providing opportunities for them to discover new passions, learn vital skills and give back to their local community. 

“Over the last four years, over a million young people across the UK started a life-changing DofE Award, with more than 342,000 starting an Award in 2024-25 alone – the highest in our nearly 70 years of history. This shows just how much appetite there is amongst young people for enrichment opportunities beyond formal education. Together with our volunteers, partners and supporters, we want to reach 1.6 million young people by next spring, so even more young people can unlock their potential by taking part in DofE.”