Young people and youth workers who have learned a range of new skills will be rewarded at a ceremony at the Department of Education and Children next week.
 
Professor Ronald Barr, Chief Executive Officer of the DEC, will present Open Awards to 27 recipients.
 
The DEC’s Youth Service is a registered centre for Open Awards – a charity that allows learners to gain recognised qualifications at four levels, over a huge syllabus of subjects, by clocking up credits.
 
Grainne Burns, Youth Officer with the Youth Service, said: ‘Open Awards offer qualifications that are flexible enough to be delivered in diverse settings, from small providers such as the Youth Service here to large colleges. 
 
‘They suit the Youth Service because they can be adapted to the specific settings in which we work.’
 
Receiving certificates will be those who have gained qualifications in aspects of youth work, photography, music and sound and lighting.
 
‘The skills the participants have learned will stand them in good stead not just within a youth setting but in all aspects of life and their future careers,’ Grainne said.
 
‘We have also supported CruzKids – the support group for bereaved children run by Cruse Isle of Man – in accrediting older members in a mentoring course.’
 
Receiving Open Awards at the ceremony on Wednesday 16th July will be:
 
Level 3 Role of the Outdoor Worker:

Louise Coase
David Collins
Ryan Craig
 
Level 2 Introduction to Youth Work:

Laura Wasley                              Victoria Melling
Katrina Grib                                Connor Cracknell
Sasha Collister                            Chris Cain
Rob Faragher                              Andrew Galka
Michael Gordan                            Johnny Wade
 
Level 2 Mentoring for Volunteers:

Kharl Flynn                                 Rebecca Greatbatch
Toby Hedges                              Ammon Yeardsley
Ben Yeardsley
 
Level 2 Photography:                               

Christopher Long                                   
Todd Pilling                                
Samuel Walmsley                        
Joseph Williamson                      
 
Level 2 Discovering Music:

Carl Shrewring
 
Level 1 Sound and Lighting:

Michael Cowin
Laura-Beth O’Neill
Ben Cunningham
Juan Shimmin
 
For more information about Open Awards, visit www.openawards.org.uk/.