Young DofE participants help launch The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’s Living Legacy Fund
Donate in memory of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to help give a million more young people the opportunity of doing their DofE Award.
Young DofE participants and Award holders from across the UK will today help launch a new fund in memory of the charity’s founder, The Duke of Edinburgh. The Living Legacy Fund will give a million more young people the life changing opportunity to achieve a DofE Award, building the self-belief, confidence and skills to feel ready to overcome anything life throws their way.
They are joining famous DofE alumni and supporters including Alice Beer, Hannah Cockcroft, Hugh Jackman, Karthi Gnanasegaram, Levison Wood, Nina Wadia and Ross Kemp who have being paying tribute this week to The Duke and his amazing work for the DofE.
DofE supporter Ross Kemp says, “The DofE has been life changing for so many and I have witnessed first-hand the impact taking part can have on young people. Donate now and help commemorate The Duke and continue his incredible legacy by ensuring all young people are ready to follow their passions, discover new skills and build vital self-belief.”
Throughout his life HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was a champion of young people and a firm believer in their potential.
Hugh Jackman, Actor says, “It is remarkable that the drive of one man to set up the DofE should have had such an impact on the lives of millions of people, all over the world. I did my Gold DofE in Australia and it was an excellent experience.”
Doing the DofE can help young people do better in education, improve their mental health, help get the job they want, and make a positive difference in their community, and since he founded the charity, 6.7 million young people across the UK have taken part.
Yet his vision has never been more necessary or more urgent, as the COVID pandemic has left young people huge facing challenges to their education, mental health and employment prospects.
The Living Legacy Fund will help the charity give one million more young people, from all circumstances and backgrounds, the opportunity to do their DofE over the next five years. It will help establish new DofE centres and deepen existing support, train thousands more Leaders and volunteers, and provide targeted help to young people who need specialist support to do their DofE, whether they’re facing financial hardship, are in a young offender institution or prison, or have special educational needs or disabilities.
Lucy Aur, DofE Wales Youth Ambassador says, “The DofE transformed me from an anxious teenager into a composed and capable adult who is ready to deal with any stressful situation life throws my way. I learnt to say yes to new opportunities and to believe in my own abilities. The DofE taught me that I am more than enough.
“Young people deserve the opportunity to grow, to learn more about themselves, to try and fail and learn and succeed. The DofE isn’t just a weekend, it’s for life. It’s for anyone from any background. I’m backing the effort to get 1 million more young people doing their DofE to show the potential today’s youth have, they are the leaders of today, tomorrow and the future.”
Donate to The Living Legacy Fund
Ruth Marvel CEO of the DofE says, “It’s been an overwhelming and emotional experience listening to the thousands of people, from teenagers to politicians, presenters to sports stars, sharing such powerful stories about the difference DofE has made to their lives. We want to make sure every young person – whatever their background, ability or income – can develop the self-belief, skills and confidence to take on whatever life throws their way. And ensure that no young person faces barriers to starting or achieving their DofE Award.”
Hannah Cockcroft MBE says, ‘I will forever be grateful to The Duke of Edinburgh for giving me the experiences and opportunities that I have had through his charity and the support they continue to provide. Through the DofE, I gained the confidence that I can do anything I want to, with a little bit of help.”
Nina Wadia OBE Actress says, “For generations across the globe the DofE has brought together young people and taught them how to work together to improve themselves and the world around them. It creates an environment in which communication starts off as a necessity but ends up being fun, something to look forward to and a life skill.”
