Rochdale mosques celebrate first ever Duke of Edinburgh awards ceremony

The evening recognised the achievements of local young participants who completed the DofE Award

Neeli Mosque and Madina Mosque hosted their inaugural Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Awards presentation, marking the first time mosques in the UK have been involved in the prestigious youth development programme.

The evening recognised the achievements of local young participants who completed the DofE Award, an opportunity many may not have had otherwise.

The awards were presented by esteemed guests, including Deputy Lieutenants of Greater Manchester, Asrar Ul-Haq OBE and Catherine Louise Scott, alongside Beth Craigen, DofE operations officer, and Diane Higgins and Jamshed Miah from Rochdale Youth Service.

Over the course of a year, the young participants engaged in various activities designed to foster responsibility, accountability, and teamwork, providing them with life-changing experiences and a significant boost in confidence.

Speaking at the event, Asrar Ul-Haq praised the young achievers. He said: "I’m delighted to see so many young people stepping out of their comfort zones and taking on the challenges of the DofE Award scheme. Their engagement with local charities, community work, and teamwork was truly inspirational."

Deputy Lieutenant Karan Lee also expressed admiration for the participants, saying: "The qualities these young people have displayed during the DofE Award scheme will ensure they become tomorrow’s leaders. I’m really pleased with them all."

Beth Craigen, who helped distribute the awards, added: "I’m very pleased to be here giving out the bronze awards. This will stand out on their CVs, university, and job applications."

Diane Higgins from Rochdale Youth Service highlighted the skills gained by the participants. She said: "Many congratulations to all the young people who have developed teamwork, leadership, confidence, and resilience that will be useful throughout their lives.

"It’s been great to see mosque volunteers getting their boots on and walking through the mud!"

Representing Madina Mosque, Nabeel Tariq shared his pride in the groundbreaking initiative. He said: "No mosques have been part of the DofE programme before, and we hope we’ve started a trend that will be replicated across the UK. We’re grateful to the Deputy Lieutenants, Duke of Edinburgh, Rochdale Youth Service, and the mosque volunteer teams who invested a lot of their personal time to ensure the programme’s success."

He also thanked Asrar Ul-Haq for his role in introducing the DofE team to the mosques, adding: "Insha’Allah, next year’s cohort will be arranged soon. Keep an eye on our social media to find out when it launches."

The event was a significant moment for both the mosques and the wider Rochdale community, setting a precedent for greater involvement of faith-based organisations in national youth development initiatives.