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DUKE OF EDINBURGHS AWARD The Gold Award Team at Buckingham Palace The DofE award is the world’s leading youth achievement award, giving 14-24 year olds who wish to take up the challenge, the opportunity to strive to be the best they can be and gain the confidence to believe anything they put their mind to is possible. The programme takes between one and four years to complete and is recognised and valued by employers and universities alike. Eccles RFC were the first rugby club in the UK to offer the DofE award programme to its players. The scheme was established in honour of Christopher Tickle who was posthumously awarded the DofE Gold Award by HRH Prince Phillip in 2010. Since 2011, the club’s young people have achieved over 100 Bronze awards, over 60 Silver awards and 48 prestigious Gold Awards – a testament to the hard work and dedication of the participants and the Eccles team of volunteer leaders. The DofE programme is a journey of adventure and discovery that compliments the ethos of Rugby by rewarding teamwork, endeavour, physical activity, learning skills and community volunteering. To achieve an award a young person must show persistence, commitment, progress and personal development over a period of time. Every activity must be successfully completed and assessed. Activities take a minimum of one hour a week over a set period of time, so they can be fitted in around academic study, hobbies and social lives. To commence a Bronze Award you must be aged 14+ years, 15+ years for Silver and 16+ years to start a Gold Award. For more details on the DofE at Eccles RFC and how to become involved check out the club website or email:baines.mark@virginmedia.com. Mark Baines, DofE Chair, Eccles RFC

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