A LEGENDARY Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme leader from Auchenharvie Academy has been recognised by the charity for his phenomenal contributions.

Norrie Brown has led the programme at the Stevenston school for 20 years now, impacting countless lives in the process.

Through delivering the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE), the 65-year-old has positively engaged some of the Academy’s hardest to reach students.

He has helped numerous young people secure university placements and jobs, and reducing anti-social behaviour at the local fire station as part of young people’s DofE Skills section.

This outstanding work was recognised as the charity hosted its This is Youth 2023 award, where Norrie was crowned 'Torchbearer of the Year'.

The awards aim to recognise and celebrate the amazing stories behind The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

It showcases young people and the adults who support them doing what they do best: rising above today’s challenges and making their mark on the world, their way.

Norrie was simply blown away as he received the accolade at London's Postal Museum on Wednesday, November 29.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Norrie Brown has lead the DofE programme at Auchenharvie Academy for the past 20-years.

He said: “When I heard I had won, I was numb but very, very proud.

"It gives me a lot of pleasure to see all these pupils that leave the school who have taken part in the Auchenharvie DofE programme being successful – whether that’s getting great jobs, or doing well at college or university.

"Knowing how well they’re doing is the biggest pleasure I get out of my job.” 

During his two decades leading the DofE course, Norrie says that the most exciting part of has been working with Kilwinning's community fire station to deliver a 12-week outreach programme.

He added: “Two firefighters approached me to say they were having lots of trouble in town with kids that went to Auchenharvie, so we set up a Skills section at the fire station.

"The young people do everything a firefighter does, like cutting dummies out of cars, hose running and getting to know the engine and tools.

"The rapport between pupils and fire service went up, incidents went down and it’s just gone from strength to strength.”

One former pupil, David McKay, credits Norrie as the reason he chose to start working with younger people later in life.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Norrie Brown has lead the DofE programme at Auchenharvie Academy for the past 20-years.

He commented: “Norrie means the world to me and has had a massive impact on my life. It’s hard to put into words how much he deserves recognition, just how many people he’s helped over his career.

"He’s the reason I was able to stop being an angry young man to become a confident worker for young people, trying to impact their lives the way Norrie impacted mine. I just can’t thank him enough.” 

Norrie was one of hundreds of This is Youth nominees from across the UK in eight categories, with the final winners chosen by panels including DofE Youth Ambassadors and celebrity supporters.

Actress Nina Wadia OBE, a Bronze DofE Award holder herself, judged the This is Youth Torchbearer of the Year category and says she was simply "blown away" at Norrie's commitment to young people.

She said: “I was absolutely blown away by Norrie’s commitment to young people and his community. What he has achieved during his 20-year career as DofE Leader has been remarkable.

"Norrie really does encapsulate everything this award stands for. He is creative in his approach to youth work, he is inclusive and – above all else – he is a role model and I want to personally congratulate him for that.”