Army Cadets Celebrate Outstanding Duke of Edinburgh Award Achievements at Local Council Chambers

Army Cadets Celebrate Outstanding Duke of Edinburgh Award Achievements at Local Council Chambers

Ballymoney Detachment, B Company, 1st (NI) Battalion Army Cadet Force (ACF) were invited to a Mayor’s Reception to Celebrate their Duke of Edinburgh Award Achievements

Recently appointed Deputy Mayor Alderman Richard Stewart invited both current and former Ballymoney Detachment cadets to honour their combined achievements.

The celebration took place on Tuesday, 17th June 2025, at Cloonavin, Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council (CCGBC) in Coleraine and cadets along with their trophy for the best Duke of Edinburgh Awards pass rate throughout the 1st Battalion excitedly gave the Deputy Mayor a few details as to how they earned the trophy.

After a few photos the Deputy Mayor then took the cadets and adults to the Council Chambers and explained some of the work which takes place there and then had a question/answer session.

The final part of the visit included refreshments in the Mayor’s Parlour and at this point the Deputy Mayor Alderman Richard Stewart expressed his pride, with the young cadets stating;

“It is a privilege to celebrate the dedication and hard work of the cadets. Their commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh Award reflects not just their personal growth but also the strength of our community.”

The event also welcomed guests, including Deputy Lord Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Douglas, OBE, DL, Captain Jason Jack, Battalion Duke of Edinburgh Officer, B Company Commander Major David Rutherford and CCGBC Veteran’s Champion Councillor Dawn Huggins.

The Deputy Lord Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Douglas took the opportunity to talk to the cadets and remarked on the significance of the awards, explaining that he was also a Duke of Edinburgh Award Holder and said of the cadets;

“These achievements represent the spirit of resilience and determination found in our young people, and it is inspiring to witness their journey.”

The evening concluded with cadets sharing their experiences, of their involvement with the Duke of Edinburgh Award program and the varied volunteering, from collecting ring pulls for charity to assisting vulnerable Neighbours, the different sporting activities and new skills learnt. These stories also included of their own expedition experiences, good and bad.

The following participants were celebrated for their noteworthy accomplishments:

Gold Participant:
– Theo Philips, who is currently progressing through his Gold Award after successfully completing his Bronze and Silver Awards.

Silver Participants:
– Jessica Craig
– Stevie McCreadie
– Cameron Smyth
– Oliver Greer
– Josh McKee, each of whom are Bronze Award holders currently completing their Silver Awards.

Bronze Award Holders:
– Holly Campbell
– Alfie Clyde
– Noah Wilson
-Eliza Sharpe

As the Ballymoney Detachment celebrated the achievements of its cadets, the Army Cadet Force as a whole recognises the importance of fostering youth development and leadership through initiatives like the Duke of Edinburgh Award which work alongside the ACF syllabus.