Ethnic teens take up Duke's award

More than 50,700 teenagers and young adults with ethnic backgrounds were involved in the scheme between 2005 and 2006 - an increase of 28% on last year.

It had previously been criticised for being middle class and not appealing to ethnic groups or those in inner cities.

Organisers said they were working with communities which were hard to reach.

The number of new entrants to the scheme, which promotes adventure and self-development, rose by 3.9% to 151,311 last year, and around 11,000 more were from ethnic minorities than the previous year.

The number of disabled people involved also rose to 4,085 - up by 31%.

'Community cohesion'

Sarah Lindsell, the award's UK services director, said teenagers and young adults wanted to be "constructive, active" members of their community and were far from their portrayal as "hoodies".

She added: "The award is working extensively with harder-to-reach communities, running many projects throughout the UK.

"For example, in West Yorkshire and East Lancashire, there are projects happening which promote community cohesion in some of the country's most challenging, deprived and ethnically-diverse areas."

In 2005 as he unveiled plans for the scheme's 50th anniversary celebrations, the Duke of Edinburgh insisted his award was still relevant.

At a Buckingham Palace conference, he also dismissed claims that the scheme was the preserve of the middle class as a "myth".

Around 250,000 young people aged between 14 and 25 take part in the awards scheme in the UK at any one time.

And more than six million people across the world have signed up since Prince Philip founded it in 1956.

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The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
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