STUDENTS from a Whitchurch based school were rewarded with a special ceremony last week to mark their success in a national awards programme.

The 18 students from Testbourne Community School’s Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Group gathered at the school to be praised for their months of hard work, while also receiving their official bronze award certificates.

Also in attendance were representatives from organisations such as the Whitchurch Welfare Trust and Overton Parish Council, which provided grants to support the group’s efforts.

Mayor of Whitchurch, Cllr Mike Kean, and his wife, Jan, were also there to present the participants with their certificates.

Each of the students involved in the scheme had to successfully complete a two-day camping expedition in the New Forest, for which they needed to master a range of skills including mapreading, first aid and outdoor cooking.

They also had to complete three further sections which required them to take on a skill, physical activity or voluntary work for periods of three and six months.

Talking about the scheme, Testbourne Headteacher, Ruth Beasley, said: “Our new Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme Group continues to grow and we are grateful to everyone who continues to support it.

“Our generous benefactors have donated over £1,000 this year alone, which has been used to pay for volunteer training and equipment. We are also grateful to our group of volunteer leaders who worked with the participants over many months to support and train them.”

Another 10 students are now hoping to follow in their friends’ footsteps by completing the award later this year, with the remaining participants still needing to finish their nonexpedition sections.