Maidenhead & Windsor

It will be a case of "service with lots of smiles" as Maidenhead Royal Borough youngsters line up this week to receive their hard-earned awards for the service section of their Duke Of Edinburgh's Award.

Responding to last year's 50th anniversary award theme of service to the community, the dozen young Maidenhead service award winners have earned their "stripes" through projects such as the Youth Opportunities Fund and the Young Carers initiative.

Some of the Maidenhead award recipients look after their parents or other relatives, while others have trained as youth assessors developing opportunities for fundraising and making decisions on how to spend money allocated by the Youth Opportunities Fund. For many, this will be the first rung on the Duke of Edinburgh's Award ladder which will see them aiming to complete other sections including physical activities, skills, expeditions and a residential project at Gold level only.

The deserving dozen will step up to receive their awards alongside a crop of more than 100 other Royal Borough young people notching up success in the bronze, silver and gold sections of the prestigious awards at the annual awards ceremony in the Desborough Suite in the Town Hall, Maidenhead, on Wednesday March 7.

Cllr Margaret Cubley, Mayor of the Royal Borough, will present the awards to young people from schools and youth groups across the borough including the Outdoor Education Project in Maidenhead, Cox Green Explorers, St Mary's and Hurst Lodge Schools in Ascot and the Brigidine School in Windsor.

Pupils from Hurst Lodge School will provide floral displays for the event as part of their Skills section of the award.

Cllr Kathy Newbound, lead member for Maidenhead children's and young people's services, said: "I am particularly delighted that one of the Award's major themes of care in the community is being so well reflected in this year's awards.

"Many of these young people do a marvellous job of looking after parents and other relatives, and fully deserve this recognition of their commitment – as do those who concentrate on assessing fund-raising projects to enable their peers to enjoy a range of activities..

"The achievements of all these young people deserve our warmest congratulations. When there are so many other distractions to young people these days it is rewarding to see so many of them channelling their energies and enthusiasm into such practical and worthwhile activities."

Other schools in the borough with pupils currently taking part in the Award include Charters, Churchmead, Heathfield St Mary's and St George's in Ascot and Eton College.

For further information about the awards and the presentation evening contact Award Co-ordinator Catherine Hurst on 01628

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead