Duke of Edinburgh award winners from Neath Port Talbot struck gold at St James Palace last month.
More Gold award winners from the county borough, compared with any other local authority in the UK, received recognition at the royal residence of the Prince of Wales, Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra on November 5.
In total 22 Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award (DoE) winners visited the palace.
Neil Hapgood, Duke of Edinburgh Award development officer, said: “The ceremony consisted of young people from all over the UK.
“Next to Neath Port Talbot, the second largest local authority representation was seven young people.
“This demonstrates the success of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Neath Port Talbot. It was an incredibly special day to see so many young people being presented with this phenomenally prestigious award.
“I have been honoured and humbled to get to know these incredible guys and watch them develop through the programme.”
To receive a gold DoE award the young people, most of whom attend the Open Gold Centre in Neath Port Talbot, would have spent in excessive of 72 hours helping others in their local communities, 48 hours learning a new skill that will develop them as individuals and 48 hours taking part in some form of physical activity.
Mr Hapgood said: “They would have also trained for 12 months in expedition skills to enable them to complete a gruelling four day and 55 mile expedition in Dartmoor.”
The Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Neath and Port Talbot is run by an incredibly committed and expert team of volunteers. More than 95% of the volunteers have come though the system as participants and now give up their time to work at the centre.
Neath Port Talbot Council leader Ali Thomas said the success of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award benefits residents at all levels.
“Not only does it help the young people in develop skills essential to their future success in all areas of their life, it also benefits the wider community,” he said.
“In 2009 over 9000 hours were spent by young people completing their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award helping in their own communities.
“I would like to take this opportunity to commend the volunteers at the Open Gold Centre, without who the young people would not be able to have the fantastic experiences they do.”
