Royal Encounter This year, the Duke of Edinburgh charity is celebrating 60 years of encouraging young people to engage with the outdoors and develop skills through charity work. In honour of this occasion, there have been Diamond DofE activities all over Britain. Myself and two other bronze DofE participants from Bassingbourn, Floss Potterill and Olivia Butterworth, were invited to take part in a Diamond Challenge at Bottisham Village College with Ms Ward and Mrs Lynn. There were over 20 schools participating from all over Cambridgeshire with pupils of different ages and abilities. After about an hour, during which we had a look at the activities and the sculpture in the courtyard, Prince Edward, also known as the Earl of Wessex, came to start off the afternoon. The Earl works supporting creative arts events across Britain, having had a career as an actor himself. Also there to document the afternoon, were an ITV camera crew and Phillip Schofield. Olivia with the Earl of Wessex
We had to complete 20 challenges, each taking two minutes. Each one was DofE related; from finding points on a map to quickly putting on waterproof trousers and jackets. The Earl was also making his way through these challenges and we met on the table where we were required to move Smarties from one glass to another with a straw. The Earl cheated, but the instructor let it slide… lucky for some!
Ms Ward with Olivia, Floss and Emily
Having finally finished assembling tent poles, the challenges came to an end, and we all returned to the hall for the prize giving. Each school was presented with an award, and each participant given a cupcake as a thank-you for taking part. We even saw Phillip Schofield in the car park and said hello to him, what an afternoon! Emily Dow
Amanda’s Day Fundraising Fun The whole college was a sea of purple when staff and students supported Amanda’s Day, a fun-filled event which captured everyone’s imagination. The day raised over £2000 for cancer charities and events included a penalty shoot-out, BVC Bake-Off, tutor stalls in the hall, Sponge the Teacher and a visit from our friends Justina and Julianne from Elysium Beauty who waxed the legs of a number of male teachers who had been nominated by pupils. Staff also took part in the Cambridge 5km Race For Life. Thank you to all staff, pupils and parents who supported the fundraising events.
www.bassingbournvc.net
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