By: Blonde One

I often speak to parents at school who say that they wish there was something like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for younger years. Luckily in Devon we have such a thing!

Trinity School have embarked on the Torbay and Devon Civic Award for the first time this year and it was an absolute roaring success. The year 6 children had to take part in several different sections: active citizenship in their community, active citizenship in school, charity work, a residential, an active hobby and a non-active hobby. The children created a folder of evidence which was assessed at the end of the school year. I was extremely lucky to be asked to be their assessor! It was an absolute pleasure to listen to the activities that had been undertaken and look through the very thorough and beautifully presented folders of evidence. There was rugby, guitar playing, fundraising for charities big and small. My particular favourite was the creation of a ‘Quiet Area’ in school where children or staff can sit for a few minutes and just enjoy some quiet time.

All of the children excelled themselves and I ended the afternoon of assessing feeling excited for these students to move up to their Bronze DofE in a few years time and keeping my fingers firmly crossed that I might be asked to be the assessor next time.