Blue Sky's young people complete Duke of Edinburgh Award

Completing the Duke of Edinburgh award is just one of the extra special activities our young people get to experience with Blue Sky. The opportunity isn’t just open to our foster children, birth children from our fostering families get to join the adventure too.

This year the team ventured out into the New Forest to complete their award. The expedition included orienteering and setting up camp for an overnight stay, which is all meant to improve communication skills, confidence and teamwork. The group was led by Expedition Leader and Blue Sky Participation Manager Ed Thompson who is very proud of what they have all achieved,

“I couldn’t be prouder of my team, both the young people and all the Blue Sky staff that made it possible. Every year I see how much of difference being able to take part in group work like the Duke of Edinburgh Award makes to the confidence and happiness of our young people. It’s so important that they get to experience these opportunities.“

The young people have had to take part in a variety of different activities to complete their awards including volunteering in local shops, physical challenges and skills-based projects such as playing musical instruments or improving their social skills and self-esteem. Feedback from Foster Carers has been brilliant with one saying,

“We wanted to thank you for the amazing experience that he was able to participate in… he seems to have grown up in his thinking within those days. He loved it!”