FOLLOWING the successful launch of a Duke of Edinburgh Award Centre at Bowdon Church, a new one is to start in Timperley.

Young people, aged 13 – 24 and their parents, are invited to attend an open evening at Holy Cross Parish Hall, Park Road, Timperley on Friday, November 20 at 7.30.

Ten week training sessions for bronze and silver awards will begin there on Thursday evenings in the spring.

Timperley residents, Andy Allan, 47 and his wife, Kirsty, 45 who helped establish the Bowdon centre, are setting up the new centre.

Their 13-year-old daughter, Lucy, will be one of the first to join.

Andy said: “Before they go on expeditions, the young people will learn how to navigate, use cooking equipment and erect a tent.

“There are two expeditions. The first is a practice when the instructor will check on them. The second, the qualifier, involves one night away for bronze, two nights for silver and three nights for gold which we hope to introduce later .”

The participants will plan a route for both expeditions, do voluntary work, study a skill and take part in physical activity.

Andy is a finance director with a property company and Kirsty, a teacher at Tyntersfield School and pastoral worker at Holy Cross.

The Vicar of Timperley, the Reverend Jim Bridgman, said: “The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a great way to encourage and help young people to gain confidence as they become young adults.”

* For information see facebook.com/timperleydofe or email dofetimperley@gmail.com.