Character Award Scheme Boosts Newcastle Pupils’ Resilience

Skillforce Instructor Sarah Haigh who helped 135 primary school children taking part in activities including aseiling, battlefield activities, bush craft skills, zip wire, climbing etc. The children are completing the activities as part of the Junior Prince's Award.

Newcastle primary school pupils are boosting their resilience and team building skills as part of a national education character award scheme.

Approximately 135 children from five primary schools have just completed an outdoor activities weekend for an award programme backed by HRH The Duke of Cambridge.

The SkillForce Junior Prince’s Award equips children and young people with the skills they need to succeed in education, life and future employment.

National education and veterans charity SkillForce runs the award scheme, which develops character, resilience, confidence, teamwork and problem solving skills.

The award scheme receives funding from the Standard Life Charitable Trust as part of its work to help young people build skills and to help them prosper.

Aimed at 9 to 14-year-olds, the scheme is delivered in primary and secondary schools during an academic year and is being rolled out across Great Britain.

Ailsa Gough, Director of Learning and Operations, SkillForce, who attended the residential, said: “We work with schools to help transform lives enabling children and young people to build character, self confidence and resilience.”

She added: “There is growing recognition that schools can play a vital role supporting the development of character traits that will help pupils to get on in education and life, which is where our programmes fit in.”

Pupils took part in a range of practical activities including abseiling, bush craft skills, climbing and zip wire during the residential at Kingswood, Dukeshouse Wood on Fellside in Hexham, Northumberland, on March 12th and 13th.

The five schools involved were Atkinson Road Primary Academy on Atkinson Road, Newcastle; Swalwell Primary School on View Terrace, Newcastle; Riverside Primary Academy on Colliery Road, Gateshead; St Aidan’s Church of England Primary School on Derwentwater Road, Gateshead; and Silver Tree Primary School on Ushaw Moor, Durham.

Andy Baker, a teacher at Atkinson Road Primary Academy in Newcastle, who also attended the residential, said: “Taking part in the SkillForce Junior Prince’s Award has given our children so many opportunities and chances that they would not normally have. Our pupils have developed their social, emotional and teamwork skills.”

He added: “Children who did not work well in groups have learnt skills that have enabled them to work with others. This has also enabled them to stand up and lead their peers in sports coaching to great effect. The pupils are much more respectful now to one another and others. They have also learnt life skills such as first aid.”

He continued: “The residential has given our children opportunities to try new skills not available to all, and find new talents. Our SkillForce instructors are amazing, and give every child respect, support and warmth. Participating in the SkillForce Junior Prince’s Award has changed some of our children’s lives forever – in a good way.”

The award scheme, which comprises 40 hours of activities, is delivered in schools by SkillForce instructors who are predominantly ex-Services personnel.

Commenting on what the award scheme is achieving, Sandy MacDonald, Head of Sustainability at Standard Life, said: “We are incredibly proud to support this award, which we began sponsoring in January 2015, and to see the benefits it provides to children and young people. The award scheme draws on the talent, skills and values of predominantly ex-Services personnel who have served their country, and now wish to serve their community and inspire young people to succeed.”

More than 3,000 school pupils nationally have taken part in the SkillForce Junior Prince’s Award since it launched in 2014. Activities include teamwork challenges, community projects and first aid.

SkillForce currently works with more than 200 schools across England, Scotland and Wales offering a range of character education programmes. For more information on SkillForce’s work in the North East, contact instructor Sarah Haigh on 07788 778778 or email us.