Our 2024 Westminster Award finalists have safely returned home to reflect on an incredible ten-day expedition filled with adventure, learning, and personal growth.
It has been a journey built on our FREE BTEC Level 2 qualification in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community. This vocational qualification is specifically designed to help young people in cadet and public service organisations develop essential skills in teamwork, leadership, and personal growth, particularly within the context of community work. These are the same skills our Westminster Award finalists relied on and developed during their expedition.
The expedition’s theme, ‘Think global, act local’, was brought to life through an itinerary that blended community engagement, environmental awareness, and exciting adventure activities – many of which were first-time experiences for our finalists. As a charity dedicated to ‘improving lives through vocational education’, witnessing the impact of these experiences is one of the most rewarding aspects of the Westminster Award, and we are confident that the skills gained will continue to benefit our finalists in their personal lives and future careers.
This year, the Westminster Award expedition spanned two remarkable locations: first at Calshot Activity Centre on the shores of the Solent, and then at Argoed Lwyd Outdoor Centre, nestled in a breathtaking setting overlooking the stunning Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons).
To create this unforgettable experience, we collaborated with several exceptional partner organisations, including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Welsh Mountain Rescue, and Wings of Wales.
Our finalists were immersed in exploring:
- The critical work of volunteer organisations like the RNLI and Welsh Mountain Rescue and the impact they have on coastal and mountainous communities.
- The importance of marine and wildlife conservation, understanding how local actions contribute to global environmental efforts.
- The rich history of locations like Calshot, connecting past events to present-day conservation and community initiatives.
- The transformative power of adventure activities, such as caving, gorge walking, track cycling and windsurfing which fostered confidence, resilience, and teamwork among our Westminster Award finalists.
One of the highlights of the expedition was experiencing the Perseid meteor shower under the clear skies of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, a moment of awe that brought our Westminster Award finalists closer together.
We now look forward to the upcoming Westminster Award Ceremony at the House of Lords and can’t wait to see who will emerge as the overall winner!