At the event DofE coordinator Michelle Sharp was presented with a special plaque from the charity by survival expert Ray Mears, acknowledging the school’s commitment to running the DofE and thanking it for giving young people the opportunity to transform their lives.
Members of the Royal Family; HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Earl of Wessex and HRH The Countess of Wessex, congratulated those that were present including young Gold Award achievers, organisations that deliver the DofE and special guests such as DofE Diamond Challengers, who have set themselves a personal challenge to raise money for the DofE Charity in its anniversary year.
It was a particularly proud moment for Mrs Sharp who, this spring, swam and run 60 kilometres in as many days as part of the initiative.
Currently led by teachers Christine Goodright and Michelle Sharp, Truro High School has been involved with the DofE programme for over a decade. Since then, a huge number of the school’s pupils have achieved an award after volunteering in their community, learning a skill, getting fit, going on an expedition and, for Gold, taking part in a week-long residential. With 82% of the school’s current Year 9 enrolled for the Bronze Award, the programme’s popularity is clear.
Mrs Sharp said: “We are very honoured to have been invited to Buckingham Palace to say thank you for our work with the DofE during its Diamond Anniversary year. Our girls are encouraged to push themselves outside of their comfort zones when undertaking their awards and the skills that they develop are invaluable, so for us to be involved is something very special. We are also proud to say that our Head Girl Zahra Dalal has just completed her Gold DofE Award and is excitedly awaiting her invitation to the Palace.”
The DofE is celebrating its Diamond Anniversary throughout 2016, having supported millions of young people in the UK and across the globe to achieve DofE Awards since it was founded in 1956. The prestigious Gold Award Presentation at Buckingham Palace is one of many memorable events taking place to celebrate 60 years of the Charity.
