Term Four | 2022/23

It has been another session for both participants and leaders.

34 participants have been involved in a wide range of activities for their Bronze, Silver and Gold programmes, including:

• Volunteering – volunteering with Aberdeen Ladies U12s, Fersands and Fountain Community Centre, Dyce Amateur Swimming Club, Donside Hydro Plant, SMA S1 Science Club, Bon Accord Care, Barnardo’s, SMA Youth Activism Club, Strikers Indoor Football, British Heart Foundation, SMA Pupil Leadership Team, Salvation Army, Inchgarth Community Centre, Innovation Dance Project, and The Boys' Brigade.

• Physical – football, figure skating, swimming, Muay Thai, cycling, walking, roller blading, gym work, badminton, volleyball, kickboxing, ballet, and Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance).

• Skills – cooking, playing an instrument (guitar and vibrato), drawing, candle making, gardening, psychiatry/psychology, first aid, Young Enterprise, reading, knitting, and language.

• Expedition – all participants successfully completed expedition training, and

  • Bronze participants - a two-day qualifying expedition through Glen Tanar estate.

  • Silver participants - a three-day practice expedition through Glen Dye estate and a three-day qualifying expedition through Invercauld and Mar Lodge estates.

  • Gold participants - a three-day practice expedition through Glen Dye with other participants from Aberdeen Open Award Centre.

Also, Bronze participants from the 2019/20 session completed a two-day qualifying expedition through Invercauld and Mar Lodge estates.

During the 2022/23 session, 19 pupils achieved a Bronze DofE Award.  Well done!

As part of DofE, participants also gain a Saltire ‘Approach’ Award to recognise their volunteering within the school or their local community.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award participants spent 143 hours volunteering between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.  We are immensely proud of the dedication, effort and achievement of young people making an impact in their community.  The social value of these hours is £687.

Thank you to all the DofE Leaders that work with the participants on a weekly basis, to all members of staff that provide activities for the participants to do, and to all members of staff that support on an ad hoc basis.

For further information on The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, please visit www.dofe.org or speak to any member of the DofE St Machar team (Mr Angelides, Miss Dingwall, Miss Harju, Mr Harris, Miss Merriweather, and Mr Thomas).

Mr Scott, DofE Co-ordinator