Posted: 15/02/10
Students’ Duke of Edinburgh awards pride
A group of eight beauty therapy students at West Nottinghamshire College will be collecting some hard-earned awards next week which saw their physical and mental skills put to the test over a period of eight months.
The group of students aged between 17 and 18 all study at the town centre-based ‘Academy’ on Regent Street. They will be collecting their bronze Duke of Edinburgh awards next week (24 February 5pm) at the college’s Derby Road campus cheered on by family and friends at a celebration evening.
Each student had to complete a 3-month physical exercise programme which involved street dancing and boxercise at a local gym and getting involved in voluntary work which saw the group visit a Sutton Nursing Home to give residents relaxing hand and foot massages.
The girls’ outdoor skills were challenged during several walks in Sherwood Forest and other expeditions included an overnight camp and cooking session in the Peak District where the group prepared meals, learnt map-reading skills and demonstrated first aid techniques together.
Learner Coach Lee Bunting said: “The girls really excelled themselves over the eight months and were all incredibly willing to ‘have a go’. They also achieved their NVQ Level 1 in waxing which wasn’t expected of them during the period and each one of them put in 100% effort.
“They’ve shown commitment and dedication and truly deserve their bronze awards. Through their enthusiastic feedback they have even encouraged other students to take up their Duke of Edinburgh awards this year.”
Student Hayley Bevan (18), from Sutton-in-Ashfield, said: “When I started the work towards this award I was really nervous. After a while though, I really became enthusiastic and it was brilliant to achieve so much. The activities brought the group together as a true team and we’ve become really good friends.”
