Government junior minister Donald Rhodd (2nd right) discussing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award with Vernon Derby (left), national director of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Jamaica (DEAJ); Christine Morrell-Lewars, of the DEAJ's administrative office and DEAJ gold awardee Prince McLeish at the National Youth Conference held at Kendal, Manchester recently.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which staged a display at the conference, is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of activities for anyone aged 14-25.

The programme encourages young people to undertake exciting, constructive, challenging and enjoyable activities in their free time.

The award is a four-section programme: Service (helping the community); Skills (a hobby, skill or interest); Physical Recreation (sports, dance, fitness); and Expeditions (on foot, cycle, horseback, or water).

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