GOING FOR GOLD (& SILVER & BRONZE)
A total of ten serving and ex-members of Northumbria ACF received
their Gold Certificates at the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Presentations
in 2015. Seven on the lawns of the Palace of Holyrood House (Edinburgh)
in July, and three in the Throne Room of St James’ Palace (London) in
November. At Edinburgh, in glorious sunshine, the Award recipients and
their guests were able speak to The Earl of Wessex as well as renewing
friendships made during their journey through their Awards. For some
recipients and guests there was an added bonus of seeing HM The Queen
and HRH Prince Philip as they returned to the palace from Edinburgh.
At St James’ Palace the recipients spoke with His Royal Highness. Cadet
Staff Sgt Caitlin Belisle spoke of the pride that she and the others felt on
their achievement, saying that the presentation is an experience that she
would encourage others to aim for. She also enjoyed using the event to
meet with others and share experiences.
The Bronze and Silver participants have been working through their
Awards. Some use aspects of ACF training towards the various sections,
but many are using other experiences and hobbies. For Volunteering
there are cadets mentoring young people at schools and youth clubs,
acting as junior coaches for rowing, rugby and cricket, working in charity
shops and a leader with the Girl Guides. For Skills computer programme
design, art appreciation, and playing a variety of
instruments including bagpipes, saxophone,
clarinet and drums are all challenges our cadets are
undertaking. Both boys and girls are taking part in
rowing, rugby, soccer, cross county running as
members of clubs outside the ACF. Participants
have completed expeditions at Gold in Bavaria and
the Cairngorms and at Bronze and Silver in
Northumberland and Scotland.
The DofE is helping maintain the profile of
Northumbria ACF both within the military and
wider community.
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