I loved DofE and went all the way to my gold award. I learnt commitment and persistence in the face of cold, wet and exhaustion - especially the leadership skills to encourage my friends and feel part of a team. All the three skills I learnt I still love today although I don’t get to use them as often as I would like: photography, silver smithing and upholstery. Roll on retirement when I can get back to them!

And I love that my children and niece are all loving DofE as much as me - one gold award holder and one working towards gold. I’ve really enjoyed volunteering with my kids for the wildlife trust for their bronze and silver, a fantastic volunteering opportunity for the whole family. DofE is the scheme that just keeps giving.