HOOK’S new Open Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award centre has reached the end of a successful first year.

The centre, which operates under DofE licence of Hampshire County Council, was established in July 2015 and has seven adult leaders, two young leaders and 28 young people aged 14-15 enrolled on its 2015-16 Bronze Award programme.

In what was a busy first year, the groups took part in mandatory training walks and practice expeditions, as well as the groups visiting the Chineham Go Outdoors store for a talk on expedition kit.

They also undertook a weekend residential trip to PGL Marchants Hill outdoors activity centre in Hindhead.

To fund the trip they helped the community a little closer to home, with the group assisting local residents pack bags at the Tesco superstore in Station Road.

The DofE, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2016, is all about the things young people do in their spare time, and is designed around the interests and non-academic strengths of the individual.

Available for people aged 14 to 25, the Bronze award is attainable for people aged 14 and over, while Silver is for people aged 15 and over. For the Gold Award, participants must be 16 years and older.

Each level allows the young people to design their own award programme, setting their own goals, and recording their own progress.

Choices of activities range from volunteering, physical and skills activities, expeditions, and to achieve the gold award, taking part in a residential project.

The first year has been a steep learning curve, however plenty of skills and knowledge have been gained and the course leaders are looking forward to welcoming the 2016-17 bronze participants, as well as extending the programme to include the silver award.