From Louise Raymond, Exeter 383578, January 3, 2008

YOUNG people from across Devon who have taken part in activities ranging from bagpipe playing, sign language and the Exeter Gang Show will be given their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Achievement awards this Saturday (5 January).

Out of nearly a 100 youngsters who achieved their Gold Award during 2007, 50 will attend the presentation and be presented with their awards by the Deputy Lieutenant Sir John Evans, who is the former Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and himself a Gold Award holder.

At the beginning of the presentation musical entertainment will be provided by Bethan Donaldson from Ivybridge Community College. Music after the award ceremony will be provided by Ivybridge Community College Jazz Band directed by Neil Maya.

The Duke of Edinburgh award provides an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development for young people aged between 14 and 25. It is non-competitive, flexible in design and allows young people to set their own goals. The scheme is delivered through schools, colleges, youth clubs, voluntary organisations such as scouts and guides and churches.

The Gold Award can take up to two years to achieve. Each participant has to cover five different areas of achievement - service, skills, physical recreation, expedition and residential experience.

Some of the young achievers and their activities include:

• Beth Allin from Bideford Community College studied the economic history in the Elan Valley, Wales
• Her brother Sam Allin also from Bideford Community College did his residential in the Honduran cloud forest and helped with bat and bird netting.
• Lucy Dymond also from Bideford Community College worked in a Romanian orphanage.
• Emma Tressider from Colyton played Saxophone and was young musician of the year 2006 for Chard
• Clare Rogers from Exeter School camped on a glacier in Greenland and crossed mosquito infested bogs.
• Marie Clarke from ISCA College was involved in a remake of 'Touching the Void'.
• Becky Bower from Ivybridge Community College was a member of the masterclass at Dartington International Summer School playing the clarinet.
• Eddie Moore also from Ivybridge Community College visited Lille Museum for his residential to improve his French.
• Ben Moysey also from Ivybridge Community College worked at Heritage Joinery in London for his residential.
• Paul Hutchings from Kelly College was involved in marathon kayaking for his physical recreation.
• Babbis Shepherd from Kilmington Baptist Youth Group for her expedition studied Dartmoor myths and legends.
• Steve Catt from Kingsbridge Community College did a gliding scholarship for his residential.
• Bethannie Welcome also from Kingsbridge Community College visited the Andes for her expedition and wore snowshoes.
• Rachel Clutterbuck from Knowles Hill School visited Diske Island, Greenland for her expedition and in her own words said 'most daring thing I have done, came home feeling elated.
• Charlotte Coombs from Maynard School for Girls won the Hancock Roper Cup at Exeter for her golf, and for her residential helped at West of England partially sighted school and learn how to write alphabet and name in Braille.
• Charlotte Davey from Okehampton Award Challenge Centre went to S Africa for her expedition to study aggressive alien invader species on black wattle!
• Charlotte was joined by Martin Jones and Gavin Rice from Okehampton Community College also studying these strange insects.
• Bethany Diment from Queen Elizabeth Community College took part at the Badminton Horse Trials for her residential.
• Tom Fursdon also from Queen Elizabeth Community College did a beach lifeguard course for his residential.
• Daniel Thomas from the Scouting Association did his residential at Norjam 2003 in Norwich. Daniel is now a doctor at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.
• Rachel Taylor from the Guiding Association as President of Exeter University Scout Guide 2006 Club helped many people with their Awards.
• Amy Challacombe from St Margaret's School for Girls recorded a CD 'Cast Threads Away' - Group performed at BBC R2 Young folk awards.
• Sophie Gough also from St Margaret's painted an elephant wandering down a jungle path on her expedition to Western Ghats, India.
• Hannah Osborne also from St Margaret's attended the Bird College Musical Theatre Summer School in London for her residential.
• Chloe Collins from Stover School did her residential with the Police and loved the diving.
• Matt Abbott and Jonathan Hiscoke from Teighbridge Youth Service attended the International Scout Jamboree in Somerset for their residential helping with the accommodation and catering.
• Hannah Bewes from Torrington Open Award Group cared for Holstein dairy cattle for her skill.
• Emily Hooper from West Buckland School attended the Aberystwyth Music Festival for her residential.

Councillor John Smith, Devon County Council's Executive Member for Children and Young People's Services, will be involved in the presentation, interviewing each of the gold award winners.

Said Councillor Smith: "My warmest congratulations to all these worthy winners for their remarkable achievements.

"It is heartening to see so many young people from across Devon involved in this superb scheme, and I have been impressed by the range of projects and expeditions they have undertaken to achieve this award.

"I am looking forward tremendously to meeting them at the presentation and congratulating them personally."

Ends

Note to News Eds: The presentations will take place on Saturday 5 January at 2.15pm for a 2.30pm start, at County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter. Journalists and photographers are welcome to attend.

For individual interview requests and a full list of participants please telephone Sally Yeo at the Devon Duke of Edinburgh Office on 01647 440983 or 01392 383922.