Police & Crime Commissioner Alun Michael has completed the 22-mile Gower Walk to raise money so that more young people can take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE).

The walk on Saturday (9^th Sept) was both a celebration of his 80^th birthday and a chance to mark the launch of the DofE award for the South Wales Police Youth Volunteers

The Commissioner was joined by his son Tal to walk the 22 miles along the Wales Coast path from Rhossili to Mumbles with over 100 others.

Explaining his decision to rise to the challenge Alun said :  “It was great to be involved in the event which in the true spirit of DofE had a real expedition-like feel to it and a comradery which brought the walkers together. I learned a lot from different people who work with the Award scheme in different settings – in schools, with youngsters from different backgrounds and in disadvantaged communities. The discussions reflected my own experience as a youth worker in Cardiff in the past.

“I completed the DofE Award myself as a 17-year-old – as the first person to complete Gold in Wales - and the experience had a huge positive impact upon me. It is why I continue to support the scheme and have been working towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award being central to what we offer the young people who join the South Wales Police Youth Volunteers.  The heat made it tough but a cool coastal mist spared us from its full impact so we were very thankful for that and we were able to march on the finish.

“I would like to thank all those who have sponsored me – together we have raised hundreds of pounds for a great cause.”

It is not too late to sponsor Alun. Post-event donations can be made via this link Gower Walker Alun (dofe.org).

The DofE is working to reach one million young people by 2026. In 2022/23, more than 11,000 young people in Wales started their DofE – and young people in Wales gave an amazing 90,103 hours to their communities for their Volunteering section, equivalent to more than £433,000 in estimated total value.

To do their DofE, young people aged 14-24 choose their own activities to complete Physical, Skills and Volunteering sections, an Expedition and a Residential at Gold level. They have fun, discover new passions, give back to their communities, grow in resilience and self-belief, and develop vital skills employers value – whilst working towards a widely recognised and respected Award.