Today my thoughts are with Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family, along with everyone who mourns the loss of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Whilst I mourns the loss of the founder of the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Patron HRC, I take the time to celebrate the incredibly remarkable legacy His Royal Highness has left for 6.7 million young people, including myself. Thank you for an extraordinary life of service for the country and young people. Rest in Peace.
DofE was an incredible experience for me at 15-16 years old; I learned and built so much resilience and confidence throughout from ballet dancing to fire cadet I have unforgettable memories such as winter expeditions at Brecon Beacons with my secondary school friends From Ridgeway School and Sixth form college
This experience expanded my horizons and challenged me to become a better person while I was part of the Fire Cadets for my skills section, which I wouldn't have done if it wasn't for the DofE Award. I met terrific leaders who inspired me to this day, and the discipline, amongst other skills I learned, continue to impact my personal and academic life. I'm so glad I was part of the DofE award, and I strongly encourage everyone to join.