Staff have been encouraging pupils at St. Vincent’s to get involved with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for some years. Apart from being great fun, the Award has brought special benefits to the young people:

• An individual personal development programme, where progress is measured from their own starting point

• A nationally recognized Certificate for their achievements

• Pupils are accepting the same challenge as those in mainstream schools

• The Award recognizes the work done in the school to improve basis skills and enhance future training/employment prospects

• Everyone can succeed!

The Expedition element of the Award has always provided new experiences for our pupils, as they have learnt how to navigate in the hills, camping and cooking skills and the art of working together in a group.

For two years a group of pupils from the school were part of an intergenerational project with older folk from the Ormeau Road. The Building Bridges projects addressed the citizenship element of the curriculum through encouraging each group to address their prejudices and values leading to a better understanding of the needs of others. The learning outcomes were across the curriculum and the participants completed the Service Section of the Award.