YOUNGSTERS who have spent the year on a popular self-improvement programme celebrated their achievements at a ceremony this week.

The Royal Wootton Bassett Academy pupils, who completed their bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards, were presented with their certificates and badges by BBC adventurer and presenter Andy Torbet, who was a guest speaker at Monday’s event.

Chloe Airey, 18, was one of the students to take part in the programme in the past year.

She said: “I made friends for life and learnt to cope with the bare minimum. It was a brilliant experience and I will really miss taking part in the DofE in the future.”

Eighteen-year-old Emma Burois said: “It was a great sense of fulfilment and achievement to complete all three levels of the award and I know the life skills I have learnt will help me in the future.”

Simon Wilson, 17, said: “The bronze award was a great experience. I learnt loads about navigation and working as a team; I particularly enjoyed cooking outside.”

Founded in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the awards challenge youngsters to take part in a series of challenges including fundraising or volunteering, skill-developing, improving an area in sport, and they must also take part in an expedition.

Emma Stevens, Royal Wootton Bassett Academy’s Duke of Edinburgh Award co-ordinator, said: “These awards are to celebrate the students who have achieved either their bronze, silver or gold awards over the past year.

“I was very proud of their determination and resilience to finish their expedition, overcoming adverse weather conditions, and I know they all learnt a great deal about themselves and each other.

“Running the DofE wouldn’t be possible without the support of the staff who have given up many weekends and their time after school to ensure that students have a safe and enjoyable time.”

She said numbers taking the course were growing at the academy: “This year we have over 120 students enrolled on the scheme across Years 10, 11 and 12.”

“Last year was again a busy year. We had over 50 students complete their bronze expedition in the Marlborough Downs. I assessed 20 Year 11 students on their silver expedition in the New Forest.

“In our gold award, all 20 Year 12s successfully completed their qualifying expedition in July in the Brecon Beacons. Thanks to The Adventure Academy for training and supervising our gold participants.”