26 April

HRH Prince Edward Becomes New Patron of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

HRH Prince Edward has become the new patron of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The Duke takes on the patronage held by his father, HRH Prince Philip, who founded the charity in 1956. The DofE has been a charity partner of The Lord Mayor’s Appeal since 2020.

Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, has been a passionate supporter of the DofE for decades, having achieved his own Gold Award in 1986, and has been a Trustee of the DofE since 1988. He has met young people from all over the UK, including London, and heard about the difference they’re making in their communities and the positive impact their DofE had on them.

The Duke is also a keen supporter of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal. He delivered a reading at Carols for the City, the City of London’s first joint Christmas Carol Service, and attended TLMA’s Impact Reception at Mansion House in November 2021, hearing about the positive impact The Lord Mayor’s Appeal funding has had on young people in London.

The Duke shares the charity’s belief that opportunities like the DofE should be available to all young people, and under his patronage, the DofE will continue to expand the Award’s reach into the UK’s most deprived areas, working to remove barriers for marginalised young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

To date, over 7,500 marginalised young people have accessed the DofE and over 750 adults have been trained to deliver the Award as a direct result of The Lord Mayor’s Appeal funding, and between April 2021 – March 2022, 31.9% of 14-year-olds in London started a Bronze DofE Award.

One DofE manager at a school in North-East London said:

“Funding from The Lord Mayor’s Appeal has enabled more marginalised young people in the school to take part in the DofE. The cost-of-living crisis is affecting many students and their families, and this funding has removed a financial barrier. Students who participate in DofE take part in activities that improve their well-being while building soft skills that are fundamental to their future career aspirations."

Read more information on The Lord Mayor's Appeal's work with The Duke of Edinburgh's Award here