A teenage member of the Combined Cadet Force from Wigan has received a prestigious award from the Duke of Westminster.

James Boon (17), a member of St Mary’s College, Liverpool, Combined Cadet Force (CCF), won the award through his involvement in the BTEC First Diploma in Public Services run by Cadet Vocational Qualifications Organisation (CVQO).   The organisation provides opportunities for members of the Ministry of Defence sponsored cadet movements to achieve internationally recognised qualifications.

James was selected from hundreds of nominations from Ministry of Defence sponsored cadet movements across the UK as the outright winner of the Duke of Westminster Award, the highest of five prizes awarded through the scheme. This award, open to all cadets participating in the Cadet Vocational Qualifications, is designed to recognise all round excellence in the Cadet movement and service to the community.  James received  the prestigious trophy and prize of £500 from the Duke of Westminster at a recent ceremony in London.

Presenting the prize, the Duke said: “James Boon is a worthy winner of this year’s award.  He stands out as a self-assured and confident young man who is very determined and focused, yet remains a really rounded individual.”

James runs the Royal Air Force section of his contingent and has produced his own leadership course with an accompanying DVD. As a result of his efforts the CCF RAF intake has increased its membership by over 100 percent.  He has also won a number of flying scholarships and completed the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award. 

Active in the local community, James helps at his local branch of the Air Cadets, works with a local Scout group and assists a primary school with its outreach programme. And that’s not all; he recently helped his church organise a trip to Lourdes for disabled people from Liverpool. 

Achievement hasn’t been easy for James.  He has overcome dyslexia to achieve high academic standards and used his skills for the benefit of other youngsters with specific problems.  

James puts much of his success down to his time in the Cadets and his involvement in the BTEC Diploma.  “The diploma has helped me develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the theory behind the skills I have acquired in the CCF,” he said.  “It has also given me an additional recognised qualification to enhance my CV and leadership and teamwork skills that I can use in the real world.”