Completing all 3 of my Duke of Edinburgh Awards through my local scout group and school they opened up so many opportunities for me. My volunteering through the award led to a lifelong passion for Riding for the Disabled where I now volunteer as a riding coach and I am a coach in training for carriage driving. The many hours spent on practice hikes and on expeditions increased my love of the outdoors. This has now led me to become one of Ordnance Survey’s GetOutside Champions educating, inspiring and entertaining others to enjoy the great outdoors which has been key to our mental wellbeing throughout the last year. My passion for the outdoors which stemmed from my DofE has even led to a career protecting, promoting and extending Public Rights of Way for Britain’s leading equestrian charity.
DofE gave me a newfound confidence, I developed social skills which have helped me to get to where I am today, these skills have not only helped me to gain long term friendships, but they have helped me to be confident in interview settings and speaking in professional situations. I discovered leadership skills I never knew I had and would never have believed in without DofE. DofE taught me navigational skills which I now teach to others, it also taught me to respect the outdoors and I actively campaign to respect and protect our wild spaces thanks to my knowledge and love of the outdoors founded by DofE.