Specialist further education college Derwen College has welcomed His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to its campus near Oswestry in Shropshire.
Students, clients, staff, dignitaries, and supporters gathered to show His Royal Highness the College’s unique ‘Marketplace’ and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Outdoor Centre.
During his visit, The Duke toured the dedicated Outdoor Centre, where students proudly showcased their skills that they have learned as part of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme.
His Royal Highness watched as students, with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), working towards their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, demonstrated activities. These included boarding the canoe simulator, scaling the traversing wall, and outdoor cooking around the firepit.
The Duke also explored the College’s remarkable Marketplace, where he met students and staff working in the College’s Garden Centre and Gift Shop, Walled Garden Café, and The Vintage Advantage charity shop.
“Receiving a visit from His Royal Highness was a huge honour for the whole college,” said Derwen College Principal and CEO, Meryl Green.
“We feel very privileged to have been able to highlight the work that we do to prepare young people with SEND for adult life.
“We were particularly proud to showcase our fully accessible Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Outdoor Centre which has been developed over the 10 years the College has been running the Award and ensures that young people with disabilities don’t miss out on the fabulous opportunities the scheme offers.
“It was also wonderful to be able to show His Royal Highness our unique Marketplace, which is open to the public, and to demonstrate the exceptional real-life training opportunities this provides to our students in order to prepare them for the world of work.”
The royal visit was a momentous occasion for the Derwen College community, celebrating the achievements of its students and clients, and reinforcing the importance of opportunities for young adults with SEND.
To find out more about how Derwen College visit www.derwen.ac.uk
Photo: Students Brendan and Zara used the canoe simulator at the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Outdoor Centre. Credit Stonehouse Photographic
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