Our family that comprises of my husband Richard, me, my 21 year old son Lewis and 18 year old Oliver are all D of E award holders. Three of us have the Gold award. I am proud to say I was the only girl in my year group to have completed and been awarded with Gold which in itself was a challenge as I completed the final part when I left home to start my nurse training at 18! Holding the award has given me immense pride over the years and been a great talking point when meeting new people and at job interviews.
I was therefore very pleased when Lewis achieved his Gold award and I went with him to St James palace to receive this and it was remarked upon at the ceremony that I too was a Gold award recipient.
Oliver has struggled to do the award due to two fairly major knee injuries which have curtailed him completing the expeditions but he is now working towards Gold with just the residential and expedition to compete which he plans to do when he starts University in September.
People giving time to me for my Girl Guide and Duke of Edinburgh awards have led me to give back to others as a parent. I am still a Scout leader having run a Beaver colony for ten years and now am an assistant leader involved with Explorer Scouts. This has involved supporting and motivating young people to do their D of E awards. I am proud to recall my stories of the award pathway which in those days involved less international expeditions but under the circumstances were equally as arduous and challenging.
The one thing I have taken away from all the experiences that you can do and achieve anything if you want to!
I look forward to going with Oliver to receive his Gold award when he completes it as it’s been a difficult time for young people to work towards these awards due to the pandemic.
My thanks go to the HRH Duke of Edinburgh for all his work for the award scheme and now to HRH Prince Edward for continuing his legacy.