FOUR young people from the Tavistock area are among those due to be honoured this week for completing the gold stage of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Kelly College students Iain Davidson, Hector Jourdan and Alex Shephard, along with Ryan West from Yelverton and the Trailblazer Explorer group, will be among the 39 young people from Devon to be presented with their awards by Sir John Evans, the Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, at a ceremony at County Hall in Exeter on Saturday.

Attending the ceremony will be Helen Jenny MBE, chair of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme in Devon, Devon County Council's head of child and adult protection Rory McCallum and Cllr Stuart Barker, cabinet member with responsibility for the youth service.

The DofE is a personal development programme which challenges young people between the ages of 14 and 25 to serve others, acquire new skills, experience adventure, and make new friends — young and old. Participants, regardless of their economic circumstances, ability or disability, are encouraged to develop existing interests or try something new.

The scheme is run under a licence held by Devon County Council and is delivered through more than 70 groups in Devon including many schools, colleges, youth clubs and voluntary organisations in West Devon.

The gold award can take a number of years to achieve, the average being around two. Each participant has to cover five different areas of achievement — a volunteering project, skills, physical recreation, expedition and residential experience.

Cllr Stuart Barker said: 'Congratulations to these remarkable young people for achieving this fantastic accolade.

'I am delighted that so many young people from across Devon have been involved in this superb scheme.'