Cheryl Davey
When I was a quiet girl at school, i enrolled to the d of e programme as my brother and sister did before me. I completed the expedition which was a doddle on a beautiful weekend in our local area around exmoor. The school did not support myself or my team to complete the other sections of the award so I transferred to girlguiding (after badgering the teacher at the school for my book and d of e details).
To my surprise, it look me the next 3 months to have the sections complete and award in hand. I was so proud of myself. I had some massive support from the d of e leaders in girlguiding.
I joined with a group who had all done their bronze together along with 2 people who were travelling down to devon from beaconsfield to be with the group!! There was enough girls (and 1 boy) to be MGM in 2 groups and we moved on to do our silver, I had so much support that this was done very quickly.
I then moved on to do my gold with the same group, a slight swap part way through due to a clash of personalities but nothing us girl guides couldn't handle. I had actually moved away by the time I was on to my gold. I continued coming back to the group because the leaders were amazing. I was now an adult leader, opening up my own rainbow unit in the area as well as swimming and playing hockey for the local teams.
For our expedition, we had chosen to travel to the lake district. We got the train by ourselves from a tiny little place in north devon, swapping 3 times, to get to the lake district where we set up our basecamp. We had lovely weather for our expedition but before and after were horrendous. Our tent was flattened by 90mph winds before the expedition and then flooded afterwards. We had a celebratory swim in lake windermere!! For the whole experience, I was supported and pushed to do my best.
I enjoyed it so much I did the diamond challenge and completed the 3 peaks.
I am now a d of e leader in the girlguiding group which I started in.
Thankyou to the Duke of Ed
To my surprise, it look me the next 3 months to have the sections complete and award in hand. I was so proud of myself. I had some massive support from the d of e leaders in girlguiding.
I joined with a group who had all done their bronze together along with 2 people who were travelling down to devon from beaconsfield to be with the group!! There was enough girls (and 1 boy) to be MGM in 2 groups and we moved on to do our silver, I had so much support that this was done very quickly.
I then moved on to do my gold with the same group, a slight swap part way through due to a clash of personalities but nothing us girl guides couldn't handle. I had actually moved away by the time I was on to my gold. I continued coming back to the group because the leaders were amazing. I was now an adult leader, opening up my own rainbow unit in the area as well as swimming and playing hockey for the local teams.
For our expedition, we had chosen to travel to the lake district. We got the train by ourselves from a tiny little place in north devon, swapping 3 times, to get to the lake district where we set up our basecamp. We had lovely weather for our expedition but before and after were horrendous. Our tent was flattened by 90mph winds before the expedition and then flooded afterwards. We had a celebratory swim in lake windermere!! For the whole experience, I was supported and pushed to do my best.
I enjoyed it so much I did the diamond challenge and completed the 3 peaks.
I am now a d of e leader in the girlguiding group which I started in.
Thankyou to the Duke of Ed
