Visually impaired young people at a Harrogate college are being given the chance to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Henshaws Society for Blind People, based in Manchester, has signed up for the scheme to help people aged between 14 and 20 meet others in similar situations, swap stories and experiences and complete a qualification. For the past year, the children and families team at Henshaws have been running the scheme and already have two young people who have completed their bronze award.

Participant Alice Pennington is now raring to go with her silver award. Awards are achieved by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections: volunteering, physical, skills and an expedition.

The 15-year-old, who was born with no useful vision, undertook mobility and route training around Henshaws College in Harrogate for her skills test.

She said: “The biggest challenge I found in the whole project was being separated from my mobile phone. But my biggest achievement so far is being able to walk in front of my mum instead of behind when I’m at college; it gave me a real sense of what it’s like to be independent.”