Having completed my Bronze and Silver many years ago at school, I signed up for my Gold at school but took many years to complete it. I didn’t do my Gold expedition until my early 20’s while working in my first career as a goldsmith. It was an amazing experience we were an open team brought together from all over West Sussex. We practiced in the Brecon Beacons and then we’re lucky enough to do our qualifying expedition in the Jura mountains in France and Switzerland. It was one of the wettest summers for many years in the Jura and was a real challenge of endurance and team work.
While completing my Gold I started to volunteer with the local Open DofE centre. This lead to me starting to work as a youth worker for West Sussex and helping to run the DofE for around 20 years there. I have so many memories of young people achieving amazing things, giving their time and learning about them selves through DofE.
I now work for Surrey CC as the DofE Manager looking after their SEN schools DofE Centres and small community organisations.
Though out the last years pandemic so many young people who I have supported have been able to continue with their DofE challenging themselves to go an extra mile by giving time to the community. Getting themselves out to do their physical and learning new skills.
Always innovative and changing to give young people and it’s participants the opportunity to do there DofE their way. Challenging them to do different things and get them outside of their normal.
The DofE has given me a chance to see all of this and help just a little bit in all of these journeys.
I was also lucky enough to meet the Duke of Edinburgh twice at Gold presentations always a great and wonderful occasion to exchange a few words. The DofE meant so much to him and what it gave to so many young people over the years it has continued.
It has shaped my life in such a fundamental way and has given me so many amazing memories.
Thank you and Rest in Peace