PORTADOWN CADET RECEIVES EDEXCEL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The outstanding achievements of Army Cadet William Bryars, 18, have been recognised by education charity CVQO when he was awarded the Pearson Edexcel Achievement Award during the Duke of Westminster Award ceremony at the House of Lords in London.

William, from Portadown, Armagh, is one of nine of the country’s top cadets who made it through a challenging selection process, beating hundreds of other candidates to become a national finalist in the CVQO Duke of Westminster Award 2014.

The award was presented as part of the Duke of Westminster Award ceremony, an annual competition organised by CVQO to recognise its most outstanding learners.

The nine finalists for the award had been selected from hundreds of nominations from over 20,000 eligible CVQO learners nationwide. These are young people who possess a wide range of skills and abilities and have overcome personal challenges, as well as demonstrating a consistently high level of commitment to their communities and their peers. Each has completed BTEC qualifications with CVQO that reflect the skills they have developed as members of UK youth organisations. Learners nationwide include members of the Sea Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet Force, the Air Training Corps and St John Ambulance.

To reward their achievements, the nine finalists were sent on an amazing three week expedition to South Africa where they undertook an environmental awareness course in Kwa Zulu Natal and a cultural project working with and teaching orphaned children. In addition they visited Rorkes Drift, Isandlwana and took part in a walking safari.