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New Start

In 1998, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award national New Start programme was developed to assist in the quest for the global involvement of young people in the Award.  New Start has successfully demonstrated how the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme can compliment and enhance the work of organisations and services concerned with reducing and preventing youth crime and promoting community safety.

For more information about New Start contact Pauline Evans.

New Start at a Glance

At both a local and national level, long held views are that The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is only for a certain type of young person.

A pivotal and visible feature of the way in which the DofE is now being delivered is the emphasis on participation being open to all young people.

In 1998, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award national New Start programme was developed to assist in the quest for the global involvement of young people in DofE.

New Start has successfully demonstrated how the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme can compliment and enhance the work of organisations and services concerned with reducing and preventing youth crime and promoting community safety.

Over the past 4 years a dedicated member of staff has been working closely with agencies/organisations and Council departments to develop the use of DofE with young people who have not previously been able to access the programme, who are aged 13 ½– 25 years old and who:

 Would not normally become involved with DofE

 considered to be "at risk" of offending

 released from prison

 serving custodial and non-custodial sentences

New Start adds value to existing programmes and can accredit many of the activities those young people are already involved in within these organisations. New Start is rapidly growing within the Stirling Local Authority area and a variety of agencies have committed to continue developing DofE within their core services.

The agencies that are currently involved in the New Start Partnership are:

 Youth Services

 Apex

 Secondary School Support

 Care Visions

 Callander Youth Project

 Through Care After Care

 Volunteer Centre

 Careers Scotland

 Polmont Young Offenders Institute

 Freagarrach Stirling

 Unit 2- Befriending Project

 Open Secret

 Criminal Justice

 Brucefield Residential Home

 Loretto – The Bridge

 The REAL Project

 Cornton Vale HMP

 Youth Justice

 Forth Valley Street Sports

 Brucefield/Glasgow Road YP unit