OVER the years thousands of Thurrock‘s young people have successfully taken part in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme – and that success was celebrated on Tuesday (17 March).
HRH The Earl of Wessex KG GCVO, visited Thurrock Council’s office to meet local young people currently taking part in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, as well as staff who support them.
The Earl of Wessex and Lord Petre, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, were greeted by the Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Steve Liddiard and Council Chief Executive Graham Farrant outside the Civic Offices in New Road, Grays.
They were joined by Thurrock MP, Jackie Doyle-Price and Carmel Littleton, the Council’s Director of Children’s Services before meeting Dave Petrie – Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Manager.
Later His Royal Highness met people from the Borough’s academy-based Award teams, led by Barbara King, head teacher at The Ockendon Academy and Award Participants from Grays Convent, William Edwards and St Clere’s.
People from the Borough’s voluntary centres – Thurrock Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Stanford Open Award Centre (SOAC) and Ockendon & Aveley Kids (OAKs) – also met and spoke with The Earl of Wessex before five people from Thurrock Council’s Targeted Delivery followed suit.
Finally His Royal Highness met Michele Lucas, the Council’s Learning and Skills Manager, and leader of the Council, Cllr John Kent, who were presented with the Council’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Operating Licence.
The Mayor said: “It was a pleasure to highlight and celebrate how much work Thurrock is doing with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards and to see the young people enjoy explaining their experiences and their hopes for the future.
“Thurrock Council puts education at the heart of everything it does; creating an aspirational Borough with people ready and willing to take advantage of the many opportunities our regeneration plans will bring.”
“The experiences provided by The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award are second to none and stay with them for the rest of their lives, making them not only more rounded individuals, but the sort of people employers are looking for.”
