A NEW group hopes to make the Duke of Edinburgh Award more accessible to young people in North Cornwall.

Pat Orridge from North Petherwin was one of those to respond to the charity Young People Cornwall’s advert for helpers to set up an Award Centre in North Cornwall.

She has since been appointed volunteer area coordinator for the DofE North Cornwall Open Award Centre, which is keen to meet local youngsters aged 14 to 25 and, hopefully, get them signed up for their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Pat wanted to get involved because ‘in North Cornwall, opportunities of accessing [the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award] are limited’.

She said: “Unless participants attend a school, scouts etc that deliver the award — or they do not wish to access it with that organisation — then you simply cannot start on the award scheme.

“Many home schooled children and those with additional needs, are also faced with the same issue.”

The new Open Awards Centre in North Cornwall now has a committee and a bank account. It will be able to use the Village Hall and The Orchard Centre In Launceston but depending on the location of interested youngsters, may be able to use alternative venues. Now it just needs local youngsters to get involved.

The first of two open sessions for anyone interested in finding out more will take place at North Petherwin village hall on Friday, February 16, from 6pm to 7pm.

Another session will take place at The Orchard, courtesy of Launceston Youth Project, on Friday, February 23 from 6pm to 7pm.

The centre is there to benefit anyone aged 14 to 25, and those getting involved will be able to make new friends, learn new skills and take part in an expedition.

As well as completing the expedition, you can choose what to do for your three other sections, and the centre will help you find and start an activity.

It will enable young people from aged 13 (who will become 14 years old this academic year) up to age 25 to either start their first DofE award or complete an existing award.

Pat added: “The awards are very high profile these days with employers and university applications and it is highly likely, a lot of job seekers are unaware what a valuable opportunity it is to add to their CV.

“Those at the top end of the age bracket can also support younger participants and that activity can count as the volunteering and or skills section of their award.

“There is also the expedition element, which is a great team building exercise with many new skills to be learnt.

“Once again North Petherwin has shown what a great community they are as most volunteers at the moment are from the village. Some of them will be gaining their Walk Leader Qualification soon, which includes camping out on Dartmoor. A recent National Lottery Awards For All grant has enabled us to set up the Open Award Centre, we are very grateful to them.”

She also expressed her thanks to Webbers estate agents for their support and help with printing.

To let the centre know you are going along to either of the open sessions, message the Facebook page North Cornwall Duke of Edinburgh’s Open Award Centre, phone Pat on 07484 703702, email [email protected] or just turn up on the day — they will be pleased to see you. Parents are welcome too!