I received my Gold Award at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh in July 1973 - I absolutely loved doing it and went on to qualify at an Outdoor ed teacher teaching hill walking campcraft watersports and eventually skiing - I was from a good solid working class family but this award gave me a boost up the ladder with experiences I wouldn't have got otherwise- it got me so many great jobs working with some of the poorest communities in Newcastle. That resilience has been with me all my life since I gained my Gold. I cannot praise the scheme enough and has always given me,in my earlier years, plenty to talk about at interviews - I was asked alot about DofE as a young teacher. I also assessed a local high school a number of years ago for an expedition as I had an MLC certificate. All great fun.