CEO Ruth Marvel responds to National Youth Strategy announcement

Ruth Marvel OBE, CEO, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), said: “The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, together with our partners in the Back Youth Alliance and the wider youth sector, has long called for a National Youth Strategy – we are pleased to see that this process has now begun and that young people will play a central role in shaping it.

“As a leading youth charity, we look forward to working with the government, the wider youth sector and young people themselves, to ensure that the National Youth Strategy delivers for young people and achieves a much-needed step change in the support and services that young people need to thrive in the UK today.

“We also reflect with sadness on the decision to close the NCS Trust which has played an important role as a champion of young people, enabling access to vital non-formal learning and development opportunities for the last 15 years. It is important that the National Youth Strategy builds on the NCS Trust’s learning to date, to ensure meaningful funding is invested where it will have most impact. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues at NCS that have been affected by this decision.”