Staff from the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) met the Duke of Edinburgh to mark the
organisation joining The Duke of Edinburgh’s (DoE) Award as a National Operating
Authority.

Training manager Richard Falk and DofE manager Amanda Van
Santen of the RYA attended St James’s Palace yesterday to receive their license certificate
from the charity’s founder and patron the Duke of Edinburgh.

The ceremony marked the launch of the organisation’s
partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which aims to inspire and
enable more young people aged 14-25 to participate in sailing, windsurfing and powerboating while
working towards their DofE.

The DofE is a charity which has been working with young
people from all walks of life since 1956, helping them to
develop for life and work through a voluntary, non competitive and personalised programme.

There are
currently 275,000 young people participating in a DofE programme in the UK.

Amanda Van Santen, DofE manager and chief instructor for dinghy and windsurfing at the RYA said: ‘It is an honour to be invited to St James’s Palace to meet
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

‘The event marks the start of a very exciting time at
the RYA and we are looking forward to being able to help young people to
develop their skills while working towards a prestigious achievement award.’

Peter Westgarth, chief executive at the DofE said: ‘We are proud to be working alongside the RYA, giving more
young people the chance to do their DofE while discovering new talents on the
water.

‘We hope that, with the help of the RYA, more young people from all
backgrounds will be inspired to set sail on their DofE adventure, learning
skills which will translate on to dry land and stay with them for life.’

The RYA is the national body for all forms of recreational,
competitive and professional boating. 
It represents dinghy and yacht racing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and
sportsboats, powerboat racing, windsurfing, inland cruising and personal
watercraft.

RYA recognised centres and clubs can apply to become licensed
to offer the DofE by meeting specific criteria.

If you would like to hear more
about becoming a DofE contact please email: training@rya.org.uk or visit www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/courses/

For more information on the DofE visit www.dofe.org

(Picture: HRH the Duke of Edinburgh greets Amanda Van Santen and Richard Falk of the RYA. Credit: The DofE/Tempest Photography)