DofE participants take Bronze

Five participants from Tottenham Hotspur Foundation’s Skills project have achieved their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE).

The Haringey students, aged 14-15, from Tottenham UTC, Broomfield and Heartlands schools, took six months to achieve their Awards, delivered by the Foundation as a pilot scheme to help create life changing education and employment opportunities to young people in the local community.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is highly regarded by Higher Education institutions for its promotion of energy, self-discipline, commitment and teamwork. It encourages young people aged 14-24 to participate in a range of challenging activities, working through four sections of the DofE programmes at Bronze and Silver level: volunteering, physical, skills and expedition, with an additional fifth residential section at Gold.

As part of the DofE programmes, the inaugural group of Spurs participants were able to turn their hand to ambassadorial roles, multi-sport activities, business studies and survival expeditions.

Through the volunteering section of the DofE programme, the group became actively involved in supporting the Foundation to raise awareness of the implications of gang violence and gun and knife crime within their local communities, taking on the role of Peace Ambassadors to tackle key issues within local boroughs.

Putting their skills to the test, participants took part in the Premier League Enterprise Challenge, designed to encourage young people to explore the business side of football club operations. As part of this activity, the young people devised a business plan to support the Club in engaging with overseas fans. The group will now represent Tottenham Hotspur at the competition’s regional semi-finals.

Kacey, 15, a Bronze Award holder, said: “I’ve had the best time doing my Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Now I’ve achieved my Bronze Award, I can’t wait to start working towards my Silver.”

Grant Cornwell MBE, Chief Executive, Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, said: “We are delighted to see our first group of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants gain their Bronze Awards.

"The experience and skills gained by participants will further their opportunity to access pathways in education, employment and training, and we look forward to supporting each individual as they work towards achieving their Silver Awards.”

As well as being highly valued by institutes of further and higher education and employers, taking part in a DofE programme fosters non-formal learning such as leadership and teamwork skills, the ability to plan and organise and the opportunity to set and accomplish goals whilst becoming active citizens.

If you’re aged 14-24, or know someone who is, and are interested in achieving a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, please contact foundation@tottenhamhotspur.com.