Our patron Gordon Bulloch
Gordon Bulloch is a former Scottish and international rugby star and pupil of Hutchesons’ Grammar School.
After leaving school, his rugby career began with Scotland U19s and U21s. During this time, he played four tours in South Africa and helped secure Scotland's fourth place in the 1996 Students' World Cup. Gordon's career continued to soar and he progressed to the level of Captain for Scotland and the British and Irish Lions, gaining a total of 75 caps. Since retiring from international rugby, Gordon has forged a successful career in business as Director of Highland Metals Ltd and continues to exercise by running in the hills.
Since 2006, Gordon has been actively involved with the Junior Duke Award. He delivers motivational speeches at Hutchesons’ at the start of each year to get the children excited about their challenges, and to help them recognise that failing a few times is okay so long as you persevere and don’t give up!
the role of an ambassador
Gordon also attends a special Garden Party lunch at the end of each academic year that celebrates the children who complete the Platinum level of the Junior Duke. He presents the children with their certificates and spends some time speaking to them about what they have learned and enjoyed most during the Award.
Many schools offering the Award would love a visit from our Patron, but instead, because Junior Duke schools are worldwide, and Gordon has a job, many have found their own Ambassador to encourage children to get involved with the Junior Duke. These include people such as: footballers, musicians, authors, adventurers and charity patrons – we hope to add some information about them here very soon!
If you have your own school Ambassador, we would love to share their story. It could inspire other schools to choose their own!
Junior Duke John
We were delighted to sponsor John (age 18) to cycle from Cairo in Egypt, in the North East of Africa all the way to Cape Town at the southern tip of South Africa. It’s 5400 miles and took 14 weeks. We followed his weekly progress with both his cycling as well as the Junior Duke challenges he faced along the way.
John made this trip to raise money for a great charity - The Elsie Normington Foundation which supports families, like his, who are young people with special and complex needs.
We created one short video each week for teachers to play in school assemblies to show: his progress, the things he saw and which life skills he had needed to use. These linked with the Junior Duke challenges in the various levels of the Award.
Getting started with The junior duke awards
With nearly 140 progressive challenges across the 10 different levels, the Junior Duke Award helps children to develop confidence and competence in life skills that they otherwise may not learn.
Challenges are tailored to each age group, and include learning First Aid, ironing, preparing meals, building a fire, delivering a presentation, learning how to swim, and much more.
Children take pride in their handwritten self-reflections and enjoy discussing their new skills with their teachers and families. Completing the levels during the school year keeps children motivated to keep learning, building a new sense of community…and competitiveness to finish their level by the end of the school year!
Plus, the Junior Duke Award has been designed so that it may be completed at home, requiring minimal work from teachers to get it up and running.
Fun for all the family!
