Partnership work completes the challenge

Six young people from Elms Bank Specialist Arts College are another muddy step towards completing their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

They recently completed two gruelling walks across the heart of the Lancashire countryside complete with back packs, head torches, maps and a compass. They navigated their way to a camping barn where they prepared their own meals, erected beds and dried out their muddy and wet clothes.

The pupils have been working with Bury Youth Service every week at an after-school club since the start of the school term, learning about climbing, team building, wheelchair sports, fitness training and map reading. The expedition was the perfect opportunity to put all the pupils’ new skills to the test.

Yvonne Hall, extended schools co-ordinator at Elms Bank, said: “Conditions were pretty basic and the young people experienced the full force of the elements during the course of the weekend. We are all very proud of their achievements: it was hard work but rewarding for everyone involved.’’

Lisa Harvey-Nebil, youth work manager, added: “Bury Youth Service is committed to providing quality provision for young people. We use the Award to develop young people’s skills, determination and confidence, all the elements that the DofE programme promotes. The young people at Elms Bank have shown real commitment to the Award and we are very proud that they have achieved this section of the Bronze Award. We are always happy to be working in partnership with Elms Bank and look forward to providing the opportunity for many more young people to access the Award.” 

Students will continue to take part in the DofE training at school and another expedition will be planned for the next wave of young explorers.

For more information about the Duke of Edinburgh Award, call Lisa Harvey-Nebil on 0161 253 6763 or Yvonne Hall on 0161 766 1597.

ENDS

Press release issued: 11 December 2012.

Picture attached: One of the six Elms Bank pupils who took part in the challenge – head boy Jack Hardman.