17/07/2026
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Volunteers and Leaders unite to strengthen opportunities for young people across the Western Isles
Leaders and Volunteers from Sgoil Lionacleit, Sir E Scott and Nicolson Institute came together for a networking day in the Caladh Inn, Stornoway on Saturday 30 May 2026.
The networking day brought together leaders and volunteers from different areas across the Western Isles allowing them to share ideas and discuss local and national DofE challenges.
The event was opened by Helen Anderson, DofE Scotland Director with support from Alice Illingworth, DofE Operations Officer.
Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar have been a DofE Licensed organisation for over 25 years, and in that time have supported over 2000 young people to start a DofE Award. Over the past year alone, participants have collectively given 1885 hours of voluntary service to the local community.
Those who attended the event said:
“I thoroughly enjoyed the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award development day. In particular, I found the discussions around widening access to the Award extremely beneficial, including the use of virtual expeditions and exploring acceptable solutions where difficulties arise in meeting volunteering requirements.”
“Talking through some of the issues, meeting folk from elsewhere. Inspiring to do more & promote more.”
If you would like to get involved in the DofE locally please get in touch with Alice Murray, DofE Operations Manager on [email protected]
Alice Murray, DofE Operations Manager said: “It was a great day, bringing volunteers from different areas of the Western Isles together to share ideas. Thanks to Western Isles Development Trust for providing funding to support the day.
“The DofE is more relevant now than ever before for young people – it helps them build lifelong skills like resilience, teamwork and self-belief, and it is great to show the incredible difference that young people are making to their communities through their Award across the Western Isles.’’
Over 19,000 young people started their DofE in Scotland in 2025-26, with over 33,800 actively taking part. Participants gave volunteering hours’ worth a total value of £2.9 million in support of others, in the same period.
To do their DofE, young people aged 14-24 choose activities in four sections: improving a Physical and Skills activity, Volunteering for a cause of their choice, and completing a demanding Expedition. Along the way they grow in resilience and self-belief, discover new talents and passions, and develop essential skills for life and work.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards wants to equip more than two million young people with skills for life and work by 2031. Since 2021 it has launched ambitious projects to fund schools and community organisations in the UK’s most deprived areas to start offering the DofE, to expand into more prisons and young offender institutions, and to support more young people with additional needs and disabilities to achieve their DofE Award.
