The highest level of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award - the gold award - has been completed by 34 young people in Pembrokeshire this year.

Gaining the Gold Award is a huge achievement, says Dave Sommerville, DofE coordinator for Pembrokeshire County Council.

“It’s the most prestigious of the three awards, and not many people get it because the commitment is enormous,” he said. “They have to work for a minimum of four years, because they will have gone through the bronze and silver levels first, and they also have to complete it during sixth form, when they are also doing A-Levels, AS-Levels and the Welsh Bac. It speaks volumes for them if they manage it.”

The gold level requires participants to work hard on volunteering, skills and physical activities, as well as undertaking a challenging expedition - a four-day hike through the Scottish Highlands, preceded by a four-day practice walk all the way across Wales. It is also the only level where participants must complete a five day volunteering-based residential course - either in the UK or abroad.

To mark their outstanding achievements, all students who complete the gold level are invited to St. James Palace in London to be presented with their award. This year, some students will also be presented with their award at Buckingham Palace.

Dave added: “It’s only really at that point that they realise the scale of what they have achieved - that they have done something that not many other people do.”

Stephanie Price, director of the DofE in Wales, said: “Pembrokeshire has a long tradition of investing in young people to help them achieve at all levels of the award and it’s fantastic to see so many completing their gold.

“The award demands commitment but it is also hugely rewarding, supporting young people to develop personally and socially in ways which aren’t always possible through school activities.

“I am looking forward to welcoming several of this year’s achievers to Buckingham Palace - a fantastic way to celebrate such dedication.”

The following local young people have all achieved a gold award.

Castle School - Zara Bakewell.

Crymych OAC - Gareth Jones.

Greenhill School - Anna Garvey, Holly Humphries, Oliver Crawford, Rob McKinley.

Pembroke Dock Young Fire Fighters - Ella Culyer.

Pembroke School - Holly Murray, Lewis Murray.

Pembrokeshire College - Ben Pepper.

Ysgol y Preseli and Crymych OAU - Archie Hollyfield.

SILVER AWARDs

The prestigious Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) has been completed by 83 young people in Pembrokeshire over the past year (2016/17).

Students across the county worked hard on the four different elements of the award – volunteering, physical, skills and expedition.

The expedition element of the silver award includes two practice three-day expeditions in North Pembrokeshire and a further three-day qualifier expedition in more difficult terrain - for example, the Black Mountains.

Dave Sommerville, DofE coordinator for Pembrokeshire County Council, congratulated all the students on completing the award, which he said was particularly challenging physically. “We are extremely proud of their dedication and their achievements,” he said.

The following local students have all achieved the silver award:

Castle School - Catherine Lovegrove.

Greenhill School - Callum McLean, Zac Henry, Ben Holmes, Finley Birt, Thomas William Emanuel, Thomas Griffiths, Jack Mills, Layla Slack, Dominic Belli, Carys Ann Judith Ratcliffe, Megan Sturdy, Nicole Bridle, Jemma Hurds, Carys Davies, Albany Milton.

Pembrokeshire College - Alfie Wheeler, Sion Lewis, Amber Baker, Max Richards, Faye Goffin.

Ysgol y Preseli and Crymych OAU - Adam Forster, Megan Lewis, Annie Williams, Lily Tiger Tonkin Wells, Nerys Palmer, Jacob Martin, Matthew Richards, Iwan Thomas Cole, Tomos Edmonds, Megan Noakes, Megan Elen Morris, Eva Jenkins, Martha Baum, Lili Ellen Mather, Carys Thomas, Lowri James, Megan Elizabeth Billing, Lowri Jones, Alanna Jones, Beth Davies.

bronze awards

Meanwhile, 235 young people across Pembrokeshire achieved the bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) in Pembrokeshire last year (2016/17).

The prestigious award gives 14-24-year-olds the opportunity to choose from a range of volunteering, physical, skills and expedition activities. The bronze level takes several months to complete.

The students have been praised for their commitment by Dave Sommerville, DofE coordinator for Pembrokeshire County Council. “We’re very proud of them,” said Dave. “Each and every one of them has worked very hard.”

Among the local students who have all achieved the bronze award are the following:

Castle School - Maya Harris, Callum John, James Allen, Lewis Waters, Rhys Morgan Jones, Lewys Greenwood, Olivia Tomp, Luke Mansfield, Stan Harrison, Hannah Winterton, Joshua Hosker, Ben Whitelaw, Robyn Thomas, Anna Roach, Caitlin Sparey, Luke Fearne, Isabella Holliday.

Greenhill School - Harry Batty, Josh Church, Scott Dowler, Christopher Moir-Coe, Alex Orchard, Harrison Richards, Rosie Peake, Bethany Gove, Emily McIlwee, Jasica Shibu, Holly Bartlett, Victoria Rebecca, Alice Charnock Crawford, Tia Brace, Morgan Davies, Tanisha Cadwallader, Ollie Gamble, Issy Williams, Bethan Davies, Owen Evans, Maeci Davies, Molly Ashton, Sam Swannell, Caitlin Edwards, Jay Brace, Zac Rowell, Ben Harris, Alexander James Fleming, Georgia Rose Allen.

Pembroke School - Colm Tobin, Rowan Kettle, Curtis Palmer, Charlie Marsh, Joseph Watkins, Joseph Wiggins, Caitlin Nutting.

Pembrokeshire Youth Services - Nikki Bates, Callum Wilkinson, Bryonny Smith, Tom Bailey, Michael McDerby, Rhiannon Boswell, Chloe Bevan, Kyle Austin, Jordan Barnett, Bethany Roberts, Jade Roberts, Luke Walters, Blake Wonnacott, Amy Regan, Ashlee Rees.

Ysgol y Preseli and Crymych OAU - Erin Byrne, Maisie Wolstenholme, Grace Stangroomem, Ellie Palfrey, Georgia Jervis, Ceirios Eluned Thomas, Ceirios Thomas,Tomos Morgans, Eliza Martin, Rhydian Dafydd Howells, Callum Forster, Talfan Jenkins, Ffion Jenkins, Grug Harries, Jade Caitlyn Thorpe Phillips, Cerys Evans, Megan Greenhalgh, Alaw John, Jessica Balfour, Emily Matthews, Mari Jones, Joseph Likeman, Sofia Jones, Ffion Lewis, Matilda White, Efa Bowen, Hedd John, Lewys Tee, Joseph Mathias, Joseph Hughes, Kieran James, Caleb Nicholas, Hedd Nicholas, Steffan John Davies, Elen Megan Hawkins, Isaac Hughes, Bruce Phillips, Cai Phillips, Callum Harding, Tomos Davies, Josh Bridge, Sam Ryan Edge, Oran Fudge, Rhiannon Morgan, Indi Young, Eve Thomson, Rhys Davies, Elen Grace John.