The Lord Mayor’s Appeal announces The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award as new charity partner

The Lord Mayor’s Appeal announces The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) as their new charity partner for 2020-2022. Lord Mayor of the City of London William Russell announced the partnership at the annual Impact Reception at Mansion House on Tuesday 19 November.

He says: “I’m thrilled to announce that The Lord Mayor’s Appeal will be supporting The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award over the next three years along with our three other charities, Place2Be, OnSide Youth Zones and Samaritans. The DofE offers life changing opportunities to young people, irrespective of background. The partnership will help enable more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to take part in the programme, including volunteering, physical and skills based challenges and an expedition, improving their wellbeing and future opportunities.”

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award joins charities Place2Be, OnSide Youth Zones, and Samaritans as a charity partner of The Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

The DofE sets young people up for their futures: upskilling them to continue in education or get a job,improving their mental and physical wellbeing, and opening-up their worlds to new friends, challenges and experiences. The charity’s ambition is for all young people to have the opportunity to do their DofE, particularly those who face marginalised, for whom achieving an Award can be life changing.

Support from the Lord Mayor’s Appeal will help the DofE extend its reach in London so that more young people are able to benefit from starting and achieving an Award. It will focus on areas of deprivation and supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, working with centres such as schools and youth groups to broaden access and help ensure cost isn’t a barrier to taking part.

Clare Argar, Director for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in London says:
“A DofE Award can be a game-changer for young people and we are excited to be working with the Lord Mayor’s Appeal to extend opportunity across London. Through this partnership, communities across the capital will be enriched with more passionate and driven volunteers, businesses will benefit from more work-ready recruits and crucially, more young Londoners will be given the confidence to shine.”

Over the last two years The Lord Mayor’s Appeal have given £3.5million net to Place2Be, Onside Youth Zones and Samaritans, enabling these charities to deliver life changing work in London and beyond.