GMS’s DofE Marlow FM 20/4/2021

Exciting news, Helen Murray (GMS’s DofE Award Manager) will be joining Stuart Wilson on MARLOW FM on Tuesday 20th April from 11.40- 11.55am to talk about the DofE Award and how it inspires, empowers and develops young people.

GMS’s DofE coordinator and Award Manager was contacted by Stuart Wilson, the Director of Strategy and Development at Marlow Rugby Union Football Club, because he has introduced a Young Persons Volunteering Programme, which he is keen to keen to expand by enlisting some Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants.

The volunteering section of the DofE Award is sometimes the section students have the most difficulty finding a suitable activity for, so this opportunity is ideal for the requirements of the award because it offers a way for participants to be involved in a rewarding and safe volunteering experience, helping out and giving back to others in their community,

Nine of our Year 9 Bronze DofE cohort have signed up for the programme, which involves a variety of activities: helping to manage arrivals for age group rugby on Sunday mornings; helping with club hospitality at various evenings or weekends; simple maintenance tasks around the clubhouse and grounds during the week; helping out at club or external events. Due to COVID restrictions, the students have had some breaks from the programme, but enthusiastically resumed their volunteering as soon as guidelines allowed.

The Young Persons Volunteering Programme gives young people the opportunity to develop new skills and learn something new in a friendly environment; participation shows a willingness to be involved; work with other people as part of a team; solve problems constructively, creatively and proactively; and demonstrate a sense of responsibility for others whilst being self-driven, committed and resilient.