Developing skills, taking part in physical challenges and volunteering projects and planning an expedition are all some of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities students attending Milford Haven School’s MAP Project have been taking part in, thanks to a donation from Valero Pembroke Refinery.

The MAP project is a scheme at Milford Haven School for pupils in Years 10 and 11, offering additional opportunities studying alternative subjects. The project supports a small number of full-time students, with around another 30 pupils attending two to three days a week.

Valero is a Gold associate supporter of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme in Wales, and part of the refinery’s annual £10,000 donation to the world renowned youth development programme has this year contributed to supporting an additional youth worker to supporting MAP students undertaking their Bronze Award for the first time.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme manager, Dave Sommerville, said: “Since October, thanks to Valero’s donation, one of our youth workers has been able to spend two mornings a week at MAP taking some of the young people through their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. This pilot project is aimed at those students who might not otherwise take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, and we have seen some amazing results so far in terms of getting the students motivated and improvements in their self-esteem.”

Valero public affairs manager, Stephen Thornton, said: “Pembroke Refinery has been a longstanding supporter of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in Wales, and it is always amazing to see the positive impact our support has for young people across Pembrokeshire. The success of these sessions for MAP students is further testament to the incredible influence we can have on improving young people’s lives when we work in partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and local schools.”