Stonehage Fleming celebrates partnership with The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

Stonehage Fleming’s long-term partnership with the The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is something of which we are immensely proud, according to Teddy, Lord Derby, chairman of Exmoor Fiduciary Limited, Stonehage Fleming’s Trustee Company. “We are so happy to be involved in this partnership”, he told guests last night as one of the speakers at a drinks reception hosted at our London office with HRH The Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.

Delivered in South Africa by the Group’s charitable partner, Afrika Tikkun, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award helps to engage young people in disadvantaged communities, empowering them to learn and grow through non-formal education and learning.

Stonehage Fleming’s involvement with the Award is about more than donating money, said Teddy. “We want to get as involved as possible. Members of staff in our South African team are already acting as mentors for the facilitators working in centres outside Johannesburg.”

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, now in over 130 countries, has seen seven million young people graduate from its programmes. However many guests at the event, noted Teddy, would have been more familiar with the award’s work in the UK. He spoke of the inspiring work The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has carried out in his home town of Liverpool, where he is president of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and a member of the University of Liverpool Council.

“There are some extremely deprived areas around the city. Living there, I have been able to see first-hand the extraordinary difference the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme has made to so many people. It provides them with skills which that have really made a difference in bringing them hope and opportunity”.

For now, said Teddy, our attentions are firmly focused on South Africa. “There is much work to be done. I am delighted to say that our first cohort of 170 has now completed their award. This evening is all about how we can showcase the impact made by the Award and the Founder’s fund. We are here this evening to play our small part in helping to scale-up the ambition, impact and the perception of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award worldwide”.