PARTICIPANTS doing their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) Award are being celebrated for the impact they have made on the local community.

20 students from Kehelland College, a specialist education facility based near Camborne for young people with additional needs, are taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, a program designed to challenge and reward people aged 14-24 for completing a series of self-improvement activities.

The young people have worked hard on the volunteering section, with many of the learners taking part in Kehelland Trust Task force completing a variety of tasks for the charity, including site maintenance, horticultural tasks and site enhancement.

They also carried out regular litter picks around the village of Kehelland which was much appreciated by our local residents. Several young people raised money and awareness for charities that were close to their hearts.

Cornwall Hospice Care benefitted from the proceeds of cake stall, while Cornwall Air Ambulance and Cornwall and South Devon Boxer Rescue received funds raised from activities.

Participants collected and delivered items for the Camborne Food Bank, while others went farther afield and independently organised their volunteering.

One youngster worked hard with the grounds team at Helston Church, carrying out maintenance and improvements in their churchyard, whilst another gave his time to support other young people with additional needs with Riding for the Disabled.

A particularly passionate young man chose to raise awareness of his own condition by raising money but also by creating a quiz that his peers and college staff took part in.

Tamsin Kessell, Duke of Edinburgh manager at Kehelland Trust, said: "Changes in the requirements for the Duke of Edinburgh Award has made it much more accessible to young people with additional needs.

“This is the first year that Kehelland College have been able to offer this opportunity to our students. We are so proud of our young people and the progress they have made towards gaining their Duke of Edinburgh Award. They have overcome their own challenges to help others during the Volunteering section of the scheme.”

In May, the DofE announced that a record-breaking 342,000 young people had started a DofE programme in 2024-25 – the highest since the charity was founded almost 70 years ago. During the same period, participants have contributed an astonishing 5.2 million hours of volunteering in communities all over the UK – with an estimated total value of £33.4 million.

Ruth Marvel OBE, CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to see the impact that young people at Kehelland College have made through their DofE volunteering.

“Volunteering is a great way for young people to build confidence, develop work-related skills and use their passions and talents to benefit others. It changes lives and communities for the better – that's why it’s an integral part of the DofE programme. We’re so proud of all the young people at Kehelland College who have dedicated their time and energy to helping others in their communities.”