News Releases

Students from Powys County in the U.K. are completing their Duke of Edinburgh Awards (DofE), following support from Western Power Distribution (WPD).

The electricity company has provided a $2,800 (£2,000) bursary, or monetary fund, which will assist more than 80 students who may have found the cost of equipment or activities a barrier to taking part in the DofE program.

The DofE is a youth achievement program that helps young people in the U.K. develop skills for life and work. Students complete various activities to earn with a bronze, silver or gold award. Taking a minimum of six months to complete a bronze award and 18 months to achieve gold, participants take on personal development challenges which can involve a new skill, a volunteering role or a physical activity along with the training and completion of a challenging expedition.

DofE Partnerships Manager Ian Gwilym, said, “WPD is a long-time supporter of the DofE in Wales and this new bursary is a great way for young people to get extra financial help to enable them to complete their expedition section.

“It’s also a great natural partnership with a company that employs over 6,500 staff. Research shows that employers love seeing potential new employees with a DofE Award.

“It tells them they are dealing with determined individuals who, through many months of progressive and committed activity, have developed the ability to overcome challenges, manage their lives and help others.”

Students from Ysgol Penmaes School in Brecon, are just some of the DofE participants from Powys who will benefit from the bursary and will be taking on the challenge of their own Gold residential program, which will include a four night, five-day residential stay with people they don’t know and in an unfamiliar setting.”

Last year nearly 700 young people started a DofE Award across Powys.

WPD’s Graham Stacey said, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the DofE by helping to support young people to reach their full potential. We believe it is the responsibility of large organisations like ours to play a full and active role in the communities they serve.”

For further information, please contact Karen Welch, Corporate Communications on 01633 628119 or 07810054430

Note to newsdesks

• Western Power Distribution (WPD) is the distribution network operator for the Midlands, South West England and South Wales, and is responsible for delivering electricity to approximately 7.8 million customers in the UK.
• WPD is not an electricity supply company and does not bill customers in the UK. Its responsibility is to distribute electricity from the point of generation to homes and businesses.