Local music legend Donovan teams up with busker Murdo Mitchell to celebrate the achievements of over 500 young Glaswegians at Duke of Edinburgh’s Award celebration.

The young people will receive their Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards at a Glasgow Royal Concert Hall celebration on Monday 10 November 2014.

Award recipients worked for at least 6 months to get their DofE. They have volunteered in the local community, done a physical activity, learnt a new skill and completed an expedition.

The over 500 young people received their Award mark the culmination of a four year project to extend the reach of the DofE, supported by ScottishPower Foundation. Since the project began in 2010 over 2,000 more young people in Glasgow have developed their skills for life and work.

Ann Loughrey, Trustee and Executive Officer of the ScottishPower Foundation, said:

“The ScottishPower Foundation is committed to helping to improve the lives of young people across Scotland which is why we are delighted to support The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme. The Awards are a major milestone in many young people’s lives and we are thrilled that so many will be able to enjoy another fantastic awards ceremony.”

The ScottishPower Foundation was established in 2013 to support community programmes that are inspiring young people across the country to get more out of education, arts, culture and science. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is just one of 21 projects throughout Scotland, England and Wales to be funded by the ScottishPower Foundation in 2014. The ScottishPower Foundation demonstrates a commitment to charitable work that makes a significant and lasting contribution to society and enhances the quality of life in local communities throughout the UK.

Councillor Stephen Curran, Executive Member for Education and Young People, said:

“In Glasgow we strive to offer as many opportunities as possible to our young people. The Duke of Edinburgh Awards is a wonderful example of this and I’m delighted that more and more Glasgow young people are achieving the different categories of awards. By taking part, the pupils are learning valuable life skills that they will build on and use as they move on to employment and further and higher education.”

Barry Fisher, Director of the DofE in Scotland, said:

“I’m thrilled that so many young people are here tonight to receive their DofE Awards. With support from ScottishPower Foundation we’ve been able to help thousands more young people in the Glasgow area achieve more than ever before. Our work in Glasgow is now sustainable and will continue forward now that the project has come to completion.”