Leading from the front

Inspirational leaders are the foundation for any successful organisation but for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the world’s leading youth achievement award, volunteer leaders play the critical role in giving millions of 14 to 24-year-olds the opportunity to be the very best they can be.

The volunteer leaders at the national conference held at Trinity College Camarthen.

In Wales over 12,000 young people from a wide range of backgrounds and communities take on the challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) programme every year. The real test for the DofE’s charities operation in Wales is that the demand for the programme is outstripping supply and more new leaders need urgently recruiting.

To attract new leaders and to help support the programme in Wales, the DofE staged a national conference at Trinity College Carmarthen on Saturday 26 September to provide a unique opportunity for a new generation of leaders to become involved in the delivery of DofE programme.
We sponsored the event and we have a 
long-standing relationship with the DofE’s work in Wales.

WPD Corporate Communications Manager, Paul Bishop, who oversees the company’s corporate social responsibilities explains: “The employability skills that the DofE imparts to young people is extremely valued by major employers like WPD.

“The DofE Award is highly regarded and recognised, and it illustrates that young people can problem solve, communicate, work as a team and more importantly show determination – key attributes that we look for when recruiting staff. We are delighted to be playing a part in the development of new leaders which is helping to extend the reach of the DofE to young people across Wales.”

New leaders from across Wales will attend a series of master classes and hear from a range of inspirational speakers representing a wide range of DofE centres including traditional hubs such as schools and colleges.

New areas of the DofE in Wales operation will also be showcased, like the very powerful project that has just been completed within Parc Prison where serving prisoners have been trained in DofE leadership and have in turn supported their own children to complete their DofE Awards.

As competition for jobs across industry gets ever more competitive young people are recognising that employers are looking for much more than just academic success. The additional skills that the DofE develops in young people will provide that employability X factor that companies are looking for.
Through the successes of the Inspiring Leaders conference it is hoped that its outcomes will playa major part in the further growth of the DofE in Wales.

For further information visitwww.dofe.org.