Local teenagers may be unable to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards in future, following news that B&NES Council is planning to cut funding for the scheme.
At present, the Council funding covers the ‘D of E’ Award licence for the whole of B&NES as well as supporting the delivery of the scheme in schools and youth centres.
This support includes training and all the checks (DBS, safeguarding, health and safety) required for the protection of the participants.
The overall saving proposed is £30,000 per year, which includes the license itself (£1,500) and staffing costs.
Councillor Lisa Brett (Walcot), who is the Lib Dem spokesperson for Children and Young People and Chair of the Children and Young People Panel, commented:
“With this proposed cut, there is a risk that only private schools will be in a financial position to continue to offer the Award, thus increasing the risk of inequality and closing off opportunities from less privileged children. The Conservatives should not be cutting this funding.”
“The value of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme to participants is out of all proportion to the relatively small cost to the Council.
“Not only do children gain confidence and vital life skills, but this is also a great extracurricular activity which is attractive to universities and employers.”
“D of E can’t happen without volunteers, but confidence in an overarching organisation is essential for volunteering to work, to bring together all the organisations which offer the award – schools, Scouts, the Bath Open Award Centre, for example.
“The support from B&NES provides this trust to encourage volunteers to get involved. I will be challenging the Cabinet member to reverse this cut in the budget process.”
Ian Parsons, from the Bath Open Award Centre, added: “As a volunteer and a Leader in the Bath Open Award Centre I greatly appreciated the guidance and support of the B&NES D of E Officer.
“Without this service many volunteers would hesitate to get involved in youth work, complicated by the essential safe guarding measures, thus reducing inspirational opportunities for the young people of Bath.”
