Impressive Volunteering in DofE

Volunteering is a core element of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) programme, and we are delighted to announce that from 2023 to 2024, our pupils and students have collectively dedicated an impressive 4290 hours to volunteering. The social value of these hours equates to an incredible £22,649.

At Truro School, pupils begin their DofE journey from the 3^rd Year onwards, with pupils volunteering within the school and the wider community. For example, Holly and Sophie have been volunteering in the library and this week have been unpacking and marking up a new delivery of library books. Evie and Louis have been at the Prep School supporting art lessons on Wednesdays, while Evelyn and Rosie have been assisting with hockey training and fixtures.

With over 250 pupils currently volunteering across the county, their contributions span a wide range of activities, from Park Runs and Beach Cleans, to supporting local charities and community organisations, including the Royal Cornwall Museum, Heron Tennis Club, Probus Churches, and The National Trust.

Mark Aston, Head of Outdoor Learning, highlights the importance of this commitment, “We often think about expeditions when considering DofE Awards, however, volunteering is an equally important aspect of the Award. Volunteering helps pupils develop their independence and confidence, giving them life skills that are essential for further education and the world of work. Volunteering aims to inspire young people to make meaningful contributions within their communities, influence change, and shape the world they want to live in.”

Wednesday afternoons see 4th Year Cici volunteering in Oxfam for her Silver DofE, alongside Alice and Ella, who have been regular volunteers over the past few years. Ella is now using this time to work towards her DofE Gold Award and says she really enjoys gaining new skills and experience. These volunteers are immersed in the workings of a bustling charity shop, honing their skills in various activities such as customer service, managing stock, merchandising and operating the till. Helen, the shop manager, expressed her appreciation for their contributions, noting that their training allows her to focus on other tasks. She also observes the personal growth in the pupils, saying, “It is lovely to see how the pupils’ skills and confidence develop over the weeks and how valuable these skills can be once they move on to their next stages in education.”

One pupil, Reggie, volunteers at The Children’s Sailing Truro at Trevassack Lake, helping with the Sunday morning swim session on the lake. He said learning new skills, including safety procedures for open-water swimming and boat maintenance, has been very interesting.

Another bronze DofE pupil, Gabriel, explained he has been volunteering at his local church, where he has been helping some of the community members with gardening and maintenance around the churchyard. He commented, “I have enjoyed meeting and talking to all the other volunteers who do the gardening, and it’s terrific to be doing something for the community. I have learnt teamwork skills and also horticulture. They have said that I bring the average age of the helper down by about 30 years!”

Giving back to the community is not only a key part of the DofE programme but is also deeply rooted in Methodism, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”