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The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is Worth its Weight In Gold within the Criminal Justice System (15/11/2006)
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme is making a highly significant contribution to the personal development and successful re-integration back into society of young offenders.A conference illustrating the success of the programme within Northern Ireland’s Criminal Justice System will be hosted on Thursday 16th November in W5 by The Probation Board for Northern Ireland, The Northern Ireland Prison Service, and the Youth Justice Agency of Northern Ireland. Aptly titled ‘Striking Gold,’ the conference will mark the 50th anniversary of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Eric Rainey MBE, DL, Award Director of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Northern Ireland added: “I welcome the opportunity to share some of the many good stories of those who have used their Award experience to make a change in their lives and begin to make a positive contribution to their community”.
Valerie Pitman OBE, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Officer for The Probation Board for Northern Ireland, commenting on the Conference said,
“Throughout the day leading speakers and delegates within the Criminal Justice System and the business, community and voluntary sectors will illustrate the Award Programme’s potential and reveal more about how participants in Northern Irelandhave benefited from the Programme.”
The key speaker at ‘Striking Gold’ is Professor Howard Williamson CBE, a member of the Youth Justice Board for Englandand Wales and a Trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Speaking ahead of the Conference, Professor Williamson said, “The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award fulfils a basic human need and enables young people to develop a greater sense of responsibility for their lives, enhance their confidence and employability, become aware of the needs of others and experience the trust that others place in them.”
This event will allow us to closely examine what is going on in Northern Irelandwhere there are some very interesting ideas.”
Other speakers at the upcoming Conference include Lindsay Conway OBE, Chair of the British Association of Social Workers, Andrew McLellan, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in Scotland and a drama performance by young people from IMPACT - a Probation Board led multi-agency project which works in the Greater West Belfast area with those involved, in or at risk of car crime offences.
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