Group of young people achieve gold award after completing gruelling expedition

A group of five young people with additional learning needs have successfully achieved their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

The group, all from Neath Port Talbot, completed a 4-day expedition in the rough and remote terrain of the Brecon Beacons. To complete the expedition, the group had to walk up to 10 hours a day, covering more than 60km, all while carrying a ruck-sack full of equipment. Plus, they had to make their own food, set up camp, and navigate their way to various destinations using only a map and compass.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award was created for young people to gain essential skills for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication, and enhancing CVs. It was organised by the Neath Port Talbot Open Gold Centre, which is a part of the Council’s Youth Service. The Centre supported the group to prepare for and complete the expedition.

Neil Hapgood, Development Officer for Neath Port Talbot Council’s Youth Service, said:

“After completing an 8-month training programme, it was truly inspiring to see how the group supported each other through the ups and downs.

“Everyone showed incredible perseverance and determination to see the expedition through, all while fighting their own battle to stay positive and keep going to the finish line.”

More than 600 young people aged between 14 and 24 from across all schools in Neath Port Talbot take part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme every year. Over the last 5 years, an average of 80% of young people successfully completed the award which is 31% higher than the national average of 49%. The option to undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Award is made available to all secondary schools and is also available via a range of youth organisations.

Councillor Peter Rees, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture, said:

“I’d like to congratulate the group on their superb achievement.”

“The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a great opportunity for all young people in Neath Port Talbot to gain skills outside of the classroom which will benefit them as they progress into work, college or university.”

Pobl ifanc yn ennill eu Gwobr Aur Dug Caeredin

Mae grŵp o bum person ifanc ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol wedi llwyddo i ennill eu Gwobr Aur Dug Caeredin.

Roedd y grŵp, y mae pob aelod yn dod o Gastell-nedd Port Talbot, wedi cwblhau alldaith pedwar diwrnod ar dir garw ac anghysbell Bannau Brycheiniog, sy’n adnabyddus am gael eu defnyddio gan y Lluoedd Arfog yn ystod eu proses dethol. Er mwyn cwblhau’r alldaith, roedd rhaid i’r grŵp gerdded hyd at 10 awr y diwrnod, gan deithio dros 60km wrth gario bag llawn cyfarpar. Hefyd, roedd rhaid iddynt baratoi eu bwyd eu hunain, sefydlu eu gwersyll a dod o hyd i gyrchfannau amrywiol gan ddefnyddio map a chwmpawd yn unig.

Crëwyd y Wobr Dug Caeredin er mwyn i bobl ifanc ennill sgiliau gwaith a bywyd hanfodol megis gwydnwch, datrys problemau, gweithio mewn tîm, cyfathrebu a gwella CV. Trefnwyd y wobr gan Ganolfan Aur Agored Castell-nedd Port Talbot, sy’n rhan o Wasanaeth Ieuenctid y Cyngor. Roedd y Ganolfan wedi cefnogi’r grŵp i baratoi ar gyfer yr alldaith a’i chwblhau.

Meddai Neil Hapgood o Wasanaeth Ieuenctid Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot,

“Ar ôl cwblhau rhaglen hyfforddi 8 mis, roedd yn ysbrydoledig i weld sut roedd y grŵp wedi cefnogi ei gilydd drwy’r uchafbwyntiau a’r isafbwyntiau.

“Dangosodd pawb ddyfalbarhad a phenderfyniad anhygoel at orffen yr alldaith, gan frwydro yn erbyn eu hunain i aros yn gadarnhaol a dal ati i gyrraedd pen y daith.”

Mae dros 600 o bobl ifanc o holl ysgolion Castell-nedd Port Talbot yn cymryd rhan yn y cynllun Dug Caeredin bob blwyddyn. Mae’r cynllun yn agored i bobl ifanc rhwng 14 a 24 oed. Dros y 5 mlynedd diwethaf, llwyddodd gyfartaledd o 80% o bobl ifanc i gwblhau’r wobr, sydd 31% yn uwch na’r cyfartaledd cenedlaethol o 49%. Mae’r opsiwn i ymgymryd â Gwobr Dug Caeredin ar gael i bob ysgol uwchradd ac amrywiaeth o sefydliadau ieuenctid hefyd.

Meddai’r Cynghorydd Peter Rees, Aelod y Cabinet dros Addysg, Sgiliau a Diwylliant,

“Hoffwn longyfarch y grŵp ar eu cyflawniad gwych.”

“Mae Gwobr Dug Caeredin yn gyfle gwych i bob person ifanc yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot ennill sgiliau y tu allan i’r dosbarth a fydd o fudd iddynt wrth symud ymlaen i’r byd gwaith, y coleg neu’r brifysgol.”